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Early Global Statistics Data Visualization Chart.
Rare German-language lithographed chart of the population ("Bevölkerung"), area ("Flächeninhalt"), and residents per square mile ("Einw. auft □ M."), along with the flags of many nations of the world. Somewhat confusingly, the flags displayed do not necessarily correspond to the countries below them, though in most cases they do. The whole image appears as if a tunnel receding into the center with information stretching away from the viewer, in that sense it is reminiscent of this chart by Emma Willard. A list underneath the main image recounts the vital statistics of the nations of the world with fewer than one million residents.
Desjardins's design takes some time to decode, but once the viewer has spent a few minutes with it, it makes for a quick reference to relative population, population density, and national area. The only major failing is the chart's truncation of land area after a certain threshold, for instance, in the cases of Russia, China, India ("British Possessions"), and "Arabistan" the bars representing landmass simply run off the edge.
Rarity
The chart was separately-issued and is consequently quite rare today. We have handled other charts by Desjardins but this is the first time we have offered the present image. Desjardins was an early specialist in novel data visualization designs, apparently focusing on that to the exclusion of more traditional mapmaking.
The Czech National Library of Technology holds a companion chart, entitled:
Bildliche Darstellung der Grösse, absolute und relative Bevölkerung aller Staaten der Erde nebst den bekannten Flaggen und Cocarden
The Paris Departement of Cartes et plans also holds two similar items, entitled:
- Tableau comparatif de la superficie, population totale et population par mille carré géographique de tous les Etats du monde
- Tableau comparatif de la superficie et de la population absolue et relative de tous les Etats du monde
