Old map of the World on Mercator's projection, 1901

Edward Stanford was a prominent British mapmaker and founder of the cartographic publishing company, Edward Stanford Ltd. He was active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and was known for producing high-quality maps and atlases. One of his notable works is the map titled "Composite: World on Mercator's projection," which was published in 1901.

The map "Composite: World on Mercator's projection" is a representation of the world using the Mercator projection, a cylindrical map projection commonly used for navigational purposes. The Mercator projection distorts the size of land masses as they get farther from the equator, making areas near the poles appear much larger than they are in reality. This distortion is most noticeable when comparing the sizes of countries and continents.

In 1901, the world was in the midst of significant geopolitical changes, with the major colonial powers exerting influence over large parts of Africa, Asia, and other regions. It was a time of exploration, colonization, and rapidly advancing technology. The map likely reflects the geopolitical landscape of that era, showing the territorial extents of various empires and countries.

Stanford began his career as a map seller and dealer of maps and books in 1848. His knowledge and expertise in cartography soon led him to start his own publishing business, and in 1853, he opened his first map shop at 6 Charing Cross in London. The business grew steadily, and Stanford's reputation for producing accurate, up-to-date, and high-quality maps earned him significant recognition.

Edward Stanford's cartographic work extended to various fields, including exploration, travel, geography, and the military. He published maps for the Royal Geographical Society and provided maps to numerous explorers and expeditions of his time, supporting their quests for discovery and adventure.

One of Stanford's major contributions to cartography was his involvement in the creation and popularization of the "Stanford's Library Map" series. These were large, detailed maps that covered various regions of the world, including individual countries, continents, and thematic maps. The "Stanford's Library Map of London" is a notable example of his detailed city maps.

During his lifetime, Edward Stanford gained recognition and respect as one of the leading mapmakers in the world. His company continued to thrive after his passing in 1904, and it remains one of the oldest and most respected map publishers in the United Kingdom. Throughout its history, Edward Stanford Ltd. has played a significant role in the advancement of cartography and geographic knowledge.

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