The first and main section (TRAVELLERS AND EXPLORERS) comprises a list of some 4 thousand persons with brief biogpraphical and bibliographical notes, arranged alphabetically.

The second section (REFERENCE SOURCES) comprises a select list of works of reference pertinent to the subject.

The third section (COLLECTIVE TRAVELS) lists works which treat of travels and explorations involving more than one traveller.

The fourth section (GEOGRAPHY AND CARTOGRAPHY) lists a modest selection of works on these large subjects,  favouring those which emphasise the connection between the growth of geographical knowledge and the travels on which such knowledge is based.