A sumptuous selection of antique maps has been made from atlases which were known to have been either available to Edward Gibbon, or were in his library. Most of these represent attempts to locate ancient sites, and thus represent early examples of historical atlases. In preparing The Decline and Fall Gibbon would undoubtedly have drawn heavily upon such maps as these, although many references he made to geographical sites and features were undoubtedly informed and modified by his own readings and opinions. The antique maps have been complemented by a range of maps prepared specially for this edition.