The Hammond Atlas of Bible Lands, used for Geography Tasks in all four years of the Catholic Biblical School, is currently out of print.The Good News: Students who already have the Hammond Atlas can continue to use it indefinitely.
The Other Good News: Students who have not yet purchased the Hammond Atlas have two fine options:
2. You can choose the Oxford Bible Atlas, Fourth Edition, published by Oxford University Press and edited by Adrian Curtis, $24.95 (ISBN 9-780199-56046-2).
The Oxford Bible Atlas has many things to recommend it: Its 27 maps are easy to read, and its map index is extensive and reliable for finding most hard-to-find locations. It also includes beautiful color photographs and over 200 pages of text, providing in-depth info on the geography of the Bible.
The main advantages of the Hammond Atlas are: (1) the CBS student workbooks reference that atlas by page number in the weekly Geography Tasks, (*see note below) and (2) at $9.95 in softcover, it was significantly cheaper than comparable atlases. (Today, in August 2011, it can be ordered from www.amazon.com for $11.99 (used) or $14.91 (new). Remember, though, you’ll have to pay shipping if you purchase it online.)
Oxford Atlas offers more than the Hammond Atlas but is more expensive. It will be selling soon in the Catholic Bookstore at the Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary for $24.95. (And don't forget, Biblical School students get 10% off their textbooks at the Catholic Bookstore.)
*Note: BJ has prepared a handout, which will be available at the Year One Scripture Day, with all page numbers in the Oxford Atlas to be used with the Geography Tasks in the Year One workbook.
