"For five generations, National Geographic magazine has dazzled and educated people with its incredible photographs, illustrations, and gripping stories from the four corners of the earth. Combining travel, wildlife, science, history, culture, and conservation, the National Geographic Society's trailblazing magazine has inspired millions of readers to explore and take an interest in the planet we inhabit. Now, in celebration of its 125th anniversary, National Geographic has given TASCHEN complete access to its archives to distill the journey of a lifetime into three prodigious volumes featuring photographs--many unpublished--almost as rich, deep, and colorful as the world itself" - publisher.