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What's wrong with Google Maps?

 

Alison King
Monday 16 July 2012 00:00 BST
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Guinness World Record-breaking Atlas 'The Earth Platinum'
Guinness World Record-breaking Atlas 'The Earth Platinum' (The British Library)

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The British Library has acquired a copy of the Guinness World Record-breaking Atlas "The Earth Platinum". Weighing in at a whopping 200kg, it takes six people to carry it and measures 1.8m x 2.7m.

Printed by Millennium House, it is one of 31 copies and is made up of thousands of satellite images that together form one seamless photograph on each page.The Library already houses the enormous Klencke Atlas, which was presented to King Charles II in 1660.

But at a mere 1.75m tall and 1.9 wide (when open) it's positively piddly compared to the "Platinum". For both, though, it might be easier to look on Google Maps or get on a plane than to try opening them.

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