May 25 2008
Mapping in Permanent Ink
I have always been drawn to maps. When my family would go on long trips I would be the one holding the map, whether I was helping or not, and studying it. My roommates always come to me for directions or to use my map collection of Boston. I even got a job at a map store. Needless to say, I really like maps.
There is one book that caught my eye one day in the store that all map lovers should see, The Agile Rabbit Book of Historical and Curious Maps. This may be the coolest book in the whole wide world, containing maps of the weirdest things. Page after page, I sit in awe at what is in there: maps of the moon, maps in different languages, maps of the North Pole, and maps comparing mountains and trees. Most of them have no explanation or year of origin, which is sometimes frustrating if I want to find the purpose of the map. With no description though it leaves you wondering about who made it and why. So for some one like me this book is totally sweet.
I have been pursuing the idea of taking my passion for maps to the next level and permanently placing one on my body. Over and over again I have found myself trying to think of what map to choose, how could I possibly pick one particular country or area to place forever on my body. Luckily this favorite book of mine contained what I call “the map of maps”, which is the basis for my idea of a map tattoo. I plan on using the picture in the book for the bulk of the work, but putting in what I feel I would want to see in my “map of maps”. So if anyone out there has any suggestions on what would look good in this map tattoo, other than “don’t do it”, please let me know.
The Agile Rabbit Book of Historical and Curious Maps is amazing enough for me to place one of it’s maps on my body forever. Another great thing about the book is that it comes with a CDROM so that you can load all of the maps on to your computer. This book is definetely worth checking out for yourself or as a gift to your crazy map-obsessed friend.
Read more: Book Reviews, Cartography, Map books, News, TattooDan is a musician specializing in West African drumming and dancing. Other then drumming for his multiple bands, his favorite hobby is bikes bikes bikes. He also thinks that tattoos are totally sweet.
Splendid idea Dan!
For years I entertained the thought of getting a tattoo of the Moscow metro (if you haven’t seen the map, you should!) on my bald scalp, like a pirate’s map that is hidden from the world after my hair grows back.