1979 Scotese Map Flipbook Illustrating Continental Drift

The absolute pinnacle of 1970s scientific infographic design. A delightful 1979 flipbook illustrating continental drift by the scientist Christopher R. Scotese. There are 46 miniature plates in the book, which, when flipped, illustrate theories of continental drift from the Cambrian to the Miocene eras, or from roughly 535 million years ago to about 5 million years ago. There are three comic-bookesque plates indicating moments when continents collided 'CRASH!', move apart 'RRRIPPP!', and come back together 'CRUNCH!'

Publication History and Census

This curious cartifact was first issued by Christopher Scotese in 1973, when he was an undergraduate at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and this was a research project. The book went through at least 7 editions, the latest of which was issued in 1997. The presently offered book is the 3rd edition, 1979. Today, there is a digital version online which has been updated to represent the most recent developments in plate tectonic science.