DAVID RUMSEY A USAToday.com "HOTSITE"

Highly acclaimed collection of on-line maps honored by national publication

May 24, 2000 - USA Today has chosen David Rumsey's lauded on-line collection of 18th and 19th century cartographic materials at www.davidrumsey.com as one of its "Hotsites" for May 24th.

The collection has grown over 20 years and includes rare atlases, globes, school geographies, maritime charts and a variety of separate maps including pocket, wall, children's and manuscript maps. Digitization of the collection began three years ago by Rumsey's company, Cartography Associates, primarily to make the collection accessible and usable.

Using Luna Imaging's Insight® interface, viewers are free to explore the collection of high resolution digital images without a magnifying glass, a pair of protective cotton gloves or permission from the owner to view this private collection. Researchers may also explore the maps without having to travel, and only need Rumsey's permission to reproduce images from the collection for commercial use.

The David Rumsey collection is one of the most extensive private map collections of its type. The website collection is expected to increase to 5,000 images by the year’s end, growing to 10,000 the following year. With the appearance of www.davidrumsey.com, the collection is available to the general public for the first time.

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