Look, for example, at the way at least three authors in the present volume set themselves the task of exploring the relationships that governed the creation of the maps they are writing about, relationships that are difficult to demonstrate in the best of circumstances and almost impossible to document historically. What brings life to maps is life itself, the interconnections of contemporary time and circumstance and the inheritance of tradition. At the same time, we must never forget that it is the map which provides the raison d' tre of this journal. It is to this end, too, that our colour pages are selected solely to enhance the academic message. Those who specialize professionally in map history will probably always remain a minority.
Maps are there for all to look at and study.
One of the salient characteristics of this last decade of the twentieth century is the way the history of cartography is increasingly being written in divers ways across a broad canvas by a whole commonwealth of scholars. Bound by a common focus of interest, they come from every angle possible, bringing an enviable intellectual richness to the study of maps and to our conferences and symposia. Over the last few years, Imago Mundi has carried the insights of geographers, historians, art historians, historians of science, social scientists, and literary scholars. Were Brian Harley to revisit Imago Mundi , twelve years on from the publication of his critical appraisal of Imago Mundi , he would find much changed, both in the world of scholarship at large and in Imago Mundi . It is true that we would like our breadth of outlook to be yet more inclusive and representative of world scholarship than it is.