The Atlas do Visconde de Santarém known sometimes in English as the Viscount of Santaréms world atlas, is an important compendium lithographic reproductions of medieval European maps and navigation charts. There were three editions, all published in Paris: 1841, 1842–1844 with far fewer plates, and in 1849, the third edition and considered to be the best. This edition contains 145 maps on 77 plates, arranged in 4 parts. Biographical Manuel Francisco de Barros e Sousa de Mesquita de Macedo Leitão e Carvalhosa, second Viscount of Santarém, was born in Lisbon on 18 November 1791, the son of a prominent Portuguese nobleman. A staunch supporter of the monarchy he was, while still young, appointed Guarda-Mor (state archivist) of the royal archives at the Torre do Tombo in Lisbon, and in 1827 even became Minister of the Interior and of Marine and Overseas Territories; he was to hold neither post for long. His support of the Miguelist (absolutist) side in the Civil War meant he was relieved from his function as royal archivist in 1833, forced into exile, and finally settled down in Paris, from where he never returned to Portugal – although he was later rehabilitated, and in 1842 even restored to his position as Guarda-Mor. In Paris he devoted himself entirely to historical and cartographical studies, focusing on the Age of Discovery and the Portuguese role in it. Numerous publications resulted from this activity, among them first and foremost his 'Essai sur I'Histoire de la Cosmographie et de la Cartographie pendant le Moyen-âge' (1849–1852) and the famous accompanying 'Atlas composé de Mappemondes, de Portulans et de cartes hydrographiques et historiques depuis le VIe jusq’au XVIIe siècle...' He lived for many years in his house in the Rue Blanche 47, where he died from tuberculosis on 17 January 1856. As a statesman Santarém may have been anything but a success, but as a man of science he has rendered his country and the science of historical cartography many and important services; it was in fact he who coined the term 'cartography' and who gave historical cartography a sound scientific basis. The constitutional Portuguese government, with whom he – in spite of his Absolutist inclinations – was on very good terms, repeatedly called in his collaboration and his knowledge of the history of cartography and discovery whenever conflicts arose with other powers, regarding Portuguese claims to territories in Africa. The Government even