Peters World Map Permissions

[Peter van der Krogt]

Dear All

I am currently obtaining permissions to reproduce maps for a forthcoming book on the history of world map-making, to be published by Penguin in September.

Bob Abramms at ODT Maps, who appear to hold copyright on the Aron Peters world map, asked for $860, when the average cost for most illustrations is around $120. When asked for a reduction based on the fact I have to stand the costs, he offered the map for $600 plus 100 free copies of my book!

This seems to be at best quite unprofessional, and at worst rapacious, especially from an organisation that claims to represent diversity and widening access to maps.

Does anyone have any similar experience, and/or advice on how to reproduce the map through any other route? I'd be very grateful!

Jerry Brotton

[J. B. Post]

It would be hard to do a history of maps without illustating different projections and the Peters, for all its problems, shold be shown. Keep begging is all I can suggest, but the situation does not look unpromising.

When I was compiling AN ATLAS OF FANTASY, some publishers were rather generous because Mirage Press was obscure and, as one noted, it was a labor of love and not all that promising commercially. When the reprint by Ballantine Books, owned at that time by RCA, was in the works, the same publishers demanded much more money. My answer was to not include the maps, a solution you can't use.

It would probably do no good for the map field to write to the rights holder and say "Shame,Shame."

J. B. Post

[Joel Kovarsky]

Looking at the copyrighted derivative posted on Wikepedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gall%E2%80%93Peters_projection_SW.jpg), I'm guessing daan Strebe may know something that might help deal with the issue. You could contact him via this list.

[Strebe]

Joel, thanks for the note. Indeed I contacted Mr. Brotton directly soon after he posted. I interpret his reply to mean he seeks the original Peters map, not just a map on the Peters projection. That makes his life rather harder.

Best regards,
— daan Strebe