Behind National Geographic's worldwide reputation as a powerhouse of photography lies one of the finest, most extensive, and most unique graphic resources on Earth: the National Geographic Image Collection.

For the first time ever, readers will plumb the fascinating depths of this immense archive from the earliest photographs collected in the late 19th century to the cutting-edge work of today.

Both iconic and never-before-seen images from virtually every corner of the globe, every species of wildlife, and amazing human achievements in exploration, adventure, science, and more are showcased and placed in historic, artistic, technical, and journalistic context.

Following this lavish visual journey, readers will be awed by a behind-the-scenes profile of the collection, its size, its richly diverse character, and its special collections, ranging from delicate and beautiful Autochromes to the famous Alexander Graham Bell collection and the amazing stratosphere collection. Fine artwork and imaginative illustrations are also featured.

Finally, a list of photographers whose work is represented stands as a fitting tribute to those without whose tireless and brilliant efforts the Collection would not exist.

• Hardcover
• 512 pages, 450 color and black-and-white photographs
• 9 1/2" x 11 1/2"
• © 2009

Leah Bendavid-Val is director of photography publishing for National Geographic Books. She is the author of five books on photography including Song Without Words.

Michelle Anne Delaney is an associate curator in the Photographic History Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Maura Mulvihill is a vice president and director of the Image Collection at National Geographic, where she has worked for 30 years.

View selected photographs from the book