A tribute to the pleasures of treasure hunting.

At a time when the planet has been plotted down to the last square inch, dreams seem badly out of date. Get a global positioning system and eliminate the ratty maps in the glove compartment. Click a mouse and get a satellite picture of your own driveway. Terra incognita no longer exists. For the romance of the unknown — ancient Mesopotamia or Florida before the Interstate highway system — you have to go to the old charts.

I previously recommended this book.

A pull quote from the review:

In “Algiers” Charles Boyer looks deep into Hedy Lamarr’s eyes and tells her that she reminds him of the Paris subway. Were more romantic words ever spoken?

This article mentions a handful of other delightful map books, as well.