A Map Year

Orbus Terrarum, 1660, Frederick de Witt (source: wikimedia commons)

I’ve been thinking a lot about maps lately:their stated purposes, their politics, and their alternate uses. Maybe it’s because of all the travel, maybe it’s because I’m setting new goals for myself. But the truth is that I’ve always loved maps – old and new.I’ve especially lovedhow a map can define the known and unknown, point out regions Iwants to visit (real and imaginary), and mark places I’ve been.

I made an author’s map...