It's pure coincidence that I found this Cape Wrath map just a week before the new TV show started. I've only seen a bit of the programme so can't comment on whether it's any good.
The map, on the other hand, is another story. There's something extremely beautiful about the proportions of the covers that these maps have: 4:6:9?. There's clearly a strict grid there; the consistency is lovely, as is the positioning of the type, particularly that bit in the top right-hand corner.
They're from around the late 60s although I don't know much about Bartholomew Maps; there only seems to be these two colours, for example, and I'm not sure what they mean; I'd guess the blue is for paper maps and the orange for cloth.
The grid really holds all the elements together, and the top half tells you everything you need to know. It could have easily got over-cluttered.
Posted by: Andrew Kingham | 16 July 2007 at 04:07 PM
I used to live in a house called Sarsgrum on the road between Kinlochbervie and Durness, which may be on your map. I used to look out across the Cape from my kitchen window, whilst doing the dishes. The maps are just lovely; I especially like the colours. Thanks for the post!
Posted by: Amy Palko | 16 July 2007 at 10:23 PM
This design of cover was already in use in 1963, was replaced by 1971 by one less satisfactory - the most prominent text of the latter being HALF INCH about a whole 72pts high.
Whatever the modern qualities of the cover, it contains a map in a much earlier style, with contours shaded in strong greens and browns, and italic serif lettering whose legibility is not up to that of the cover - nor of contemporary OS maps. More beautiful than practical, it conveys precisely the image of the pre-motorway, pre-sprawl Britain of that time which we can cherish remembering.
It was perhaps among the last map series in which an artist, rather than a designer of computer print-outs, was the main design force.
Posted by: James Mackay | 18 July 2007 at 11:48 AM
Thanks James, great comment. I've seen that succeeding design - it's bit of a monster. Such a shame. I get the impression you might know a little more. You don't know who designed these do you?
Posted by: Richard | 18 July 2007 at 04:55 PM
Richard:
I'm sorry, I know little more. Bartholomew's archive went to the National Library of Scotland when the firm was taken over in the 1980s. Perhaps someone in Edinburgh could go and have a look.
James
Posted by: James Mackay | 20 July 2007 at 01:05 PM
I saw this one when out looking for Penguin books a few months ago, couldn't resist it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scatterkeir/863251315/
Posted by: Keir | 21 July 2007 at 12:09 PM