Rand McNally World Atlas: Premier Edition
Rand McNally and Company
📚 Genre
Reference - Geography and Cartography
🏢 Publisher
Rand McNally
📅 Publication Year
Mid-20th Century (Exact year variant, c. 1950s-1960s)
🔢 ISBN
N/A
About This Book
A comprehensive reference world atlas featuring detailed cartography, topographical maps, political boundaries, thematic maps, and statistical tables of geographical and demographic data. The book features a dark green faux-leather or leatherette textured hardcover binding with embossed gold-gilt lettering and a compass rose emblem on the front cover.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
500-600 pages
Edition
Premier Edition, Hardcover
Series
Standalone reference publication, periodically updated across multiple decades.
Target Audience
General Audience, Academic, and Professional reference
Collector Information
Condition
Good. Shows visible edge wear, slight corner bumping, and minor surface scuffing on the dark green front cover board, but the structure appears intact.
Estimated Value
$10-$30
Rarity
Common. Mass-produced reference atlases from this era were widely printed and distributed, meaning many copies survive in secondhand markets.
Historical Significance
Representing mid-20th-century cartography, these atlases served as standard educational and professional reference works, documenting geopolitical boundaries prior to major modern historical shifts (such as the Cold War developments and the dissolution of the Soviet Union).
Collector Notes
Collectibility for general vintage atlases is typically low unless associated with a rare early edition or pristine condition. Preserve by storing upright in a climate-controlled environment away from direct sunlight to prevent fading of the green cover and gold-gilt degradation.
Similar Books
National Geographic Atlas of the World by National Geographic, The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World by Times Books, Goode's World Atlas by Edward B. Espenshade Jr., Oxford Atlas of the World by Oxford University Press
Notable Features
Embossed gold-gilt typography and compass rose decoration on a textured green binding typical of mid-century Rand McNally premier editions.