Although Czechoslovakia didn't exist as an independent country before 1918, the first ever atlas in Czech language was published already in 1850's as Merklasův Malý Zeměpisný Atlas (Merklas's Small Geographical Atlas) during the peak period of the Czech national revival movement, although it seems to be heavily inspired by Justus Perthes Handatlas Über alle Theile der Erde. Early 20th century witnessed some new Czech atlases emerge (Ottův Zeměpisný atlas, Ottův Malý Zeměpisný Atlas), and although considered a huge achievement by national cartographical society, they were still mostly translated editions of atlases published in Germany by Brockhaus or Debes publishing houses.
The first entirely original Czech atlas was the Atlas Republiky Československé (Atlas of Czechoslovakian Republic), published in 1935, which became also the first Czech national atlas. After the second World War, Czechoslovakia gave birth to several notable atlases, where Československý Vojenský Atlas was definitely the most internationally accepted for its detailed maps of central Europe and many military maps of historical battles. In 2009, an internationally awarded Atlas Krajiny České Republiky (The Landscape Atlas of Czech Republic) was published and became the largest book ever published in this country, containing almost 100 square meters of maps and charts and weighing almost 10 kg.
