13 JANUARY 1894, Page 16

MAPS IN BOOKS.

[To THE EDITOR or THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I have for some time been collecting notes for a book on "Pioneer Hunters, Traders, and Explorers of South Africa," and to this end have had occasion to read all the old works of trade relating to that country, which I have had to obtain from various libraries. As the result of my experience,. I am justified in saying that in not one volume in ten is there a map left. This is exactly what must have been expected from the absurd system publishers persist in following with regard to them. Not content with printing them on the' thinnest, flimsiest paper they can possibly obtain, they insert them among the leaves of the volume in such a way that it is, absolutely impossible to open them without tearing, and equally impossible to keep them open while reading. Take, as an example, the maps in Captain Lugard's new book. The two loose ones in pockets will certainly go astray in a,- very short space of time, while the others must of necessity- be destroyed before the book has been read six times. In. fact, though ray copy was an uncut one, I tore one of the maps on the first time of opening, and that in spite of the greatest care. If the maps cannot be mounted on linen, and always inserted at the end of the volame,—and I do not see. why they cannot,—why not cut them up into sections, and insert them as ordinary leaves ? A book of travels without a map is something like an art magazine with all the pictures. omitted.—I am, Sir, &c., Barmouth, January 3rd, 1894. G. Lie!: