Map-maven Peter Whitfield's Cities of the World, A History in Maps is an A-to-Z of 60 cities from vanished Alexandria to Athens, Beijing, Cuzco, Delhi, New York, Paris, Sydney and Vienna. Each city gets beautiful antique maps, site plans and paintings, most taken from the British Library. We like the book not just because it's so beautiful but also because of the inspired choices of cities (Lhasa, Mantua, Salzburg).  (MAP21, $45.00)

Cartographia