“I’m going on an adventure!”
J.R.R. Tolkien
I was standing in the British Library in London looking down into a museum cabinet where beneath a layer of glass, lay an original map of Mordor.
Hand drawn on graph paper by Tolkien’s son Christopher in 1948.
it was used by his father as an aid to plotting out the third book of Lord of the Rings that was to be published in 1955.
Tolkien’s Map of Mordor
Tolkien mapping out Mordor
And, My Map of Central Australia
And just to the right of it, in the very same cabinet, was my (yes you read that right) my hand drawn map of Central Australia that I’d created for Lonely Planet’s 2nd edition of Australia back in the late 70’s.
Mordor (1948) on the left and my hand drawn map of Central Australia (1979) top right, on display in the British Library, London
Maps and the 20th Century Exhibition
It wasn’t a total surprise to see it there.
But even if you know something is coming – it can still sweep you off your feet when it actual happens ~
And certainly the thought plus the sight of my creative energies swirling around in the same cabinet space as Tolkien’s – was a little heady!
Tony Wheeler had been in touch with me a few months prior saying he was in London with a portfolio of vintage Lonely Planet maps to share with the British Library curator, Tom Harper for potential selection and inclusion in their upcoming exhibition –
Maps and the 20th Century: Drawing the Line.
The Lonely Planet portfolio laid out for the curator Tom Harper to peruse
The overall theme being that come the 20th century, maps no longer were merely navigational for telling us where we were in the world, but rather they were being used to tell us more about who we were – maps were being used as a tool to influence our thinking via propaganda and marketing persuasion.
Tom wanted to include some travel maps from guide books, which during the 20th century had flourished in popularity, and so illustrate how maps increasingly had more than a single purpose –
In the case of guide book maps, how they “were designed to stimulate the imagination of armchair travellers as much as to guide wayfarers.”
The Centre of Australia, hand drawn by Linda Fairbairn for the Lonely Planet 1979 edition of Australia
Lonely Planet and Lord of the Rings
In November 2016 I received another email from Tony saying:
“I’m briefly in London and have just been to the opening of the British Library’s ‘Maps and the 20th Century: Drawing the Line’ exhibition.
It’s open until 1 March 2017.
They said they have 4 million maps in their collection, there were several thousand they considered using in the exhibition and your ‘The Centre’ map was one of the 200 actually on display.
What is particularly nice is the display case with your map, the Geoff Crowther Central & South America notebook and the 1983 edition of Geoff’s South America on a Shoestring, also includes a map of Middle Earth drawn by Tolkien in 1948 and used by him as he plotted the activity as he wrote Lord of the Rings.
Standing by the cabinet in the British Library exhibiting my hand drawn pictorial map
So you’re in a display case with Tolkien and the British Library also displays Gutenberg’s Bible of 1455, an original Magna Carta, the Lindisfarne Gospels, the Codex Sinaiticus, Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook, Handel’s Messiah – in the composer’s hand, Beowulf and handwritten lyrics by the Beatles.
Good company!“
The exhibition – was on display from November 2016 through to March 2017, so when in the UK visiting family I naturally made a detour to visit London and see the show.
Outside of the British Library
Maps on Display at: Drawing the Line
It was such an interesting, enchanting, thought provoking and confronting selection of cartographic works –
While some were beautifully artistic and inspiring, others were heartrending as they conveyed the destruction of war; some were political and clandestine, while others took you on a hop skip and a jump back to childhood with board-games with maps as their central theme, and pages from the UK Automobile Association’s personalised map itineraries (which for me brought back many happy memories of map reading in the back of the car as a real live Sat Nav directing my father to turn left and right as we headed off on summer family holidays to the hills of Snowdonia in Wales or the North Western Isles of Scotland); as well as the simply gorgeous end papers from Winnie the Pooh, with the map of 100 Aker Wood.
[If you can’t see the video above – click here]
Central Australia -The Middle Earth of Australia!
Central Australia is situated, as its name implies – in the very middle of this island continent – miles from the sea in any direction.
It is a world of wonderfully unique vegetation, animal species and landscapes – not to mention, amazing people!
Gazing through the glass into the cabinet looking from one map to the other – I was drawn into the notion that in each of their own ways, both were a ‘Middle Earth’ of kinds.
The two maps both represented ancient lands, steeped in complex stories from long, long ago.
My current map of Central Australia available in my on-line shop (Click the image to access)
It was fun reconnecting with a map I’d last seen nearly 40 years earlier when I’d popped this original pen and ink drawing on draughting film into a tube and posted it off to Tony in Melbourne where the artwork was laid out in preparation for the press.
Cover of my current Central Australia Map Journal
My life has been focused on peoples travels and more importantly the preservation of their memories with my signature product – Journey Jottings Journal Map – and particularly relevant to this story –
the Central Australia Map Journal ~
A detail of the landscape from Journey Jottings Central Australia Map Journal
In the end… it’s all about…
Going on an adventure
This tale started with two hand drawn maps connected by their proximity in a museum glass cabinet, which was due to the commonality of their history – having both been created for a 20th century publication…
There were parallels to be made as one was indeed a map ‘of’ Middle Earth – while the other (mine) held the attributes of ‘a’ Middle Earth…
But in the end, the connection is that these two maps have travel at their core.
Both exude the mystery and excitement and fear of stepping out into the unknown, venturing into unfamiliar landscapes where discoveries are to be made and where…
Adventures are to be had 😀
“It’s a dangerous business… going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no telling where you might be swept off to.”
“Home is behind, the world ahead.”
J.R.R. Tolkien
Post Script:
I was fascinated to read Mark’s comment in the section below how a Mordor exists to the NE of Alice Springs – and thus on the right edge of my Central Australia Map!
Excerpt from the AusGeo magazine
Now there’s a little bit of synchronicity for you 🙂
My Map Journals are designed to highlight your adventures by simply dotting your route on the map and jotting your travelling tales in the surrounding illustrated boxes – a visual keepsake that will keep that holiday smile on your face… forever!
Have you read the Lord of the Rings and/or seen the films?
Or better still… visited The Red Centre –
Australia’s Middle Earth!
A real life landscape where stories older than time await discovery.
Do share one of your traveling adventures
in the comments below
This is so utterly wonderful. Congratulations on finding your work deserving of such august company. We visited the British Museum a few years ago; alas, when the map exhibit was still yet a gleam in a curator’s eye.
Thanks so much Suzanne 🙂
Its fun being part of history and how the art of cartography is forever evolving!
Oh Linda, I’m so very happy for you. What an honor indeed! It must be fantastic to have your creative work on display in such an important venue.
I like the concept of maps showing who we are. Beautifully done, my friend!
~Josie
Josie recently posted..Stay Extra Days with Your Homeowners and Make Lifelong Friends
Thanks so much Josie –
Yes, Maps really do say so much more about us than just where we are in the world!!
All I can say is Wow! It must have been amazing to see something you had created presented for the general public to see in such a well known forum
It was a very warming feeling indeed!
Particularly seeing one of the earliest pictorial maps I’d drawn and knowing how I’d since gone on to further develop the use of maps to be used as a memory aid (not just navigational!) 😉
Oh, I feel so honored that you commented on my humble little post, you who have been honored so much for a treasured hand-drawn map displayed at the British Library together with Tolkien’s! Cartography is such an art!
LOL – you are funny!
I loved that last post of yours about visiting Melbourne – Don’t forget the street art in the alleys and a day trip out to the Dandenongs 🙂
What a great story. But I am annoyed with myself because I was actually in the British Library (doing some research) a week ago and I missed this!
Going to the British Library ‘just’ to do some research sounds pretty heavenly to me!
The exhibition closed early March so you didn’t miss me 😉
Very cool, Linda! I admire your talent in cartography, and your map journals are such an interesting creation. great experience for you to see your work displayed at the British Museum. We all need that kind of affirmation once in a awhile. 🙂
Doreen Pendgracs recently posted..women’s cocoa cooperatives of the Dominican Republic
It was made all the better because it was not expected –
And I was very spoilt by being given a personal tour by Tom Harper the curator – Now that was a treat 🙂
What a fantastic life you have led and to see your work in the British Museum in such a prominent place…WOW!! Thank you for sharing your accomplishments along with your journey!!
Life’s journey takes us on such a merry dance!
Thanks for joining me on it 🙂
Amazing. Displayed in the BM alongside a map of Mordor! Pretty heady stuff! I love Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit….”not all who wander are lost”.
It is amazing to be on display in such an incredible institution, alongside such eminent company!
The more we wander – the more we find ourselves 🙂
How exciting to have something you created displayed in a museum. I love maps. Maybe that’s because they have travel at their core!
Its a little unreal isn’t it the thought that something you drew should be museum worthy!
But then look at all those ‘everyday’ clothes at the Winnipeg Clothes Museum – that puts what Museums are all about a little more in perspective 😉
I love your map, and to have it exhibited right next to Mordor! Wow! I remember poring over that Mordor map every time I read Tolkien, and that was many times. Congratulations!
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You need to now come to Australia and pore over my Australia map as have new adventures and discover new landscapes 🙂
So impressed! You are a real cartographer! I love the whimsy that now characterizes your style!
Thank you so much Irene for dropping by with such a lovely compliment 🙂
What a great achievement, congratulations! I love your maps and to have one exhibited at the British Library in London, no small feat. Chapeau!
Thanks Nat 🙂
As a lover of maps per se it’s a great feeling to have one of mine included in such an exhibition – in such an awe inspiring institution – *Bow*!
Wow, you are famous! I’m so happy that such an accolade was bestowed on you, and how lovely that you could get to see the exhibition. Your beautiful maps should be artworks in themselves, to hang on walls – they can be gazed at for ages, and I for one just enjoy imagining the places you depict in your lovely whimsical style. I had seen this news already and commented on Facebook, but have only just found the time for some blog reading. I loved the story you wove around your success, bringing it all together – I especially liked your comparison that both Tolkien’s map and your map , “represented ancient lands, steeped in complex stories from long, long ago.” So true. Well done again!
Like you Jo “I dwell in possibility“ (quote Emily Dickinson) and we both know where that can carry us!
Thank you so much for your kind words 🙂
Traveling is always a good thing in life, it fill your souls.
Wow! What a proud moment in time for you! As you know I’m a big fan of your work, and this is just stunning. Good for you!
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Thanks so much Patti 🙂
I’m loving following your European adventures – That tile Museum was quite superb ~
Amusingly my very first job when I left home and moved to London was working at Casa Pupo in Pimlico in their Tile Shop selling Spanish and Portuguese tiles to architects and stars wanting something beautiful in their bathrooms and kitchens!
The Portuguese blue and white tiles were always my favourite!
Such a pity your map stops only a few kilometres short of the real Mordor in central Australia, just to the north-east of Trephina Gorge. See page 14 of http://www.ga.gov.au/webtemp/image_cache/GA17312.pdf
What a totally amazing piece of information!
Thanks so much for sharing Mark –
I’ve taken a look at a few maps and it appears, even more amazingly, that Mordor is within the bounds of my little map!
According to Andrew Bain in this piece (about half way down) that when at Trephina Gorge he took the “Panorama Walk out of the gorge, climbing to a low peak overlooking Mordor Pound and dome-like Mount Benstead, probably the most striking peak in the East MacDonnells.” –
That really brings the story full circle 😀
Maybe you could add an extra little footnote to the British Library exhibit 🙂
I think so!
The curator Tom Harper I feel will also be highly amused at the serendipitous synchronicity 😀
FAAAAABULOUS! And I thought I was doing well to spot Journey Jottings maps (and other products) in such far flung places in OZ as Marree (SA), Cradle Mountain (Tas), Cameron Corner Store (NSW/QLD/SA), White Cliffs (NSW), Kronosaurus Corner (QLD), Flagstaff Hill (VIC) and Wycliffe Well (NT) – but your British Museum sighting takes the cake 😀
That is so funny Marion!!!
But you certainly take the cake when it comes to Ozzie sightings (Click here for those who want to see haha!!) 😀