This will be a busy spring for maps at the BBC, which has announced that BBC Four will run two television series on maps: a three-part, one-hour series called Mapping the World and a four-part, one-hour series called The Art of Maps. This, on top of a BBC Radio 4 series coming in March.

It turns out that the reason for all this Beebish map activity is an upcoming exhibition from the British Library, which, among other things, will feature the enormous Klencke Atlas of 1660. Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda and Art will run from April 30 to September 19, 2010 at the British Library’s PACCAR Gallery, and it’ll be free. More about the exhibition from the Guardian.

Previously: BBC Radio 4 Series on Maps Coming in March.