Cartographic Curiosities

Explore the fascinating world of Cartographic Curiosities! From antique art deco maps to scarce matchbook covers, these rare and unique pieces of cartography provide a window into the past. Take a journey back to 1930 with an antique Art Deco IICL Network Puzzle Map or explore the 1967 San Francisco Anti-War protest march.

See how Mason & Dixon's 1769 Survey of the Chesapeake Bay Region helped shape our understanding of geography or marvel at Howard Paine's original design sketches for National Geographic's 1963 Atlas of the World. Discover unusual artifacts like NASA Gemini Program Map of John F. Kennedy Space Center & Florida or Scarce 1954 R Buckminster Fuller Dymaxion Airocean World Map. Uncover hidden gems like Dr J Liverpool's 1880 Trade Card Fan w/ Map of Charlestown & Battle of Bunker Hill or Rear Admiral Luis de Florez WWII 3D Pilot Training Weather Simulators. These Cartographic Curiosities offer a glimpse into the past and tell stories about our history that are waiting to be explored!

	Thumbnail		Creator	Date	Title / Author / Date / Location	Price			Description
6860		Details	Anonymous	1926	Unrecorded Pictorial Map of Nevada and Calendar Anonymous 1926 LOC:89	$350.00	Anonymous	Unrecorded-Pictorial-Map-of-Nevada-and-Calendar	A very fine pictorial advertising map of Nevada from the Virginia City Bank of Virginia City, Nevada. With a complete calendar for 1926 at bottom. Includes unused metal hanger at top. A rare survivor in excellent condition. Map size 9.5" x 12.5". Overall, about 12" x 23". <br><br> <div id="0" align="center"> <a title=""></a> <img id="6860" src="/ZoomifyImages/SC_6860/SC_6860_detail1.jpg" alt="Unrecorded Pictorial Map of Nevada with Calendar from 1926" width="240"/> <br><br> <font size="-2">1926 Virginia City Bank Advertising Map</font> </div><br> Virginia City, Nevada, was a historic mining town that experienced a significant boom in the mid-19th century due to the discovery of the Comstock Lode, a large deposit of silver ore. By 1926, however, the city had long passed its heyday and was in a state of decline. In 1926, the population was estimated to be around 1,500 people, a far cry from the 25,000 residents during the height of the mining boom. <br><br> In the early 20th century Virginia City began to shift its focus towards tourism. Efforts were made to embrace, preserve and promote the town's rich mining history and Wild West character to attract visitors. This map reflects that sentiment.
6848		Details	Utah Railway Chief Engineer		Manuscript engineer's trace Utah Railway Chief Engineer LOC:68	$675.00	Utah-Railway-Chief-Engineer	Manuscript-engineer-s-trace	Singular engineer's presentation trace for the Utah Railway. With this engineer's inked trace map the engineer's office could create numerous blueprint copies for distribution. Produced for the Utah Railway Chief Engineer's office and drawn by Elwood B. Stockman in Feb. 1927. Updated on June 1, 1934. Crisp artwork and lettering. Colors bright. <br><br> Shows Salt Lake City with the Salt Lake Base Line at upper left and extends well past Huntington, Utah at bottom right. Shows Park City. <br><br> The Utah Railway Company, originally named the Utah Coal Railway, was incorporated on January 24, 1912, and later shortened its name to Utah Railway in May of the same year. The company was founded to transport coal from its mines to Provo, Utah, due to an opening in the competitive landscape caused by dissatisfaction with the existing Denver and Rio Grande Railroad's service and route in the area. <br><br> During the 1930s, the Utah Railway faced challenges brought on by the Great Depression, which lowered demand for coal and, consequently, the railroad's business. However, the company managed to maintain its operations and even make some improvements during this difficult period.
6763		Details	National Company	1949	Map of the World in Azimuthal Projection Centered on Malden Mass USA National Company 1949 LOC:89	$250.00	National-Company	Map-of-the-World-in-Azimuthal-Projection-Centered-on-Malden-Mass-USA	Scarce "Map of the World in Azimuthal Projection Centered on Malden, Mass USA". Presumed first edition lacking the more elaborate title cartouche found on the 2nd. No copies located in WorldCat. <br><br> Malden was home to the National Company, a heavyweight in the manufacturing of radio equipment. The legacy of this enterprise and the town's distinctive place in radio history were immortalized in a unique piece of advertising - this world map centered on this otherwise little-known Massachusetts town. <br><br> This ingeniously designed cartographic promotional map was part of a strategy tailored to captivate the attention of amateur radio enthusiasts. It underscored the awe-inspiring power of radio communication, visualizing the potential of the most potent transmitters of the time. One glance at this map made it crystal clear: with the right equipment, you could quite literally tap into the global conversation. <br><br> A feature that makes the azimuthal projection stand out among other cartographic methods is its fidelity to directions. Any line drawn from the center point to another location on the map accurately represents the real-world direction. This attribute, where all points appear radially symmetrical around the center, makes it an invaluable tool in aeronautical charts. <br><br>
6748		Details	Bertuch, Friedrich	1795	Antique copperplate engraving of Cannabis Sativa or chanvre Bertuch, Friedrich 1795 LOC:87	$500.00	Bertuch--Friedrich	Antique-copperplate-engraving-of-Cannabis-Sativa-or-chanvre	Antique hand-colored engraved plate ca. 1795 containing early depictions of Cannabis Sativa ( chanvre or hemp). A sub-species of weed, wacky tobakky, boucan, dope, marijuana, grass, reefer, pot, maryjane, ganja, etc. Left-most plant depicted is flax. To the right are male and female specimens of Cannabis Sativa. Scarce. <br><br> From Bilderbuch fur Kinder, published from 1792-1830 by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (1727-1822). This encyclopedia was published in 237 parts with 1186 engravings. <br><br> Two leaves total. Leaf 1 on wove with images, verso blank. Leaf 2 on laid paper with text descriptions in French and German. <br><br> Before you forget, fire up your credit card and score this very rare engraving today. Bhang! <br><br>
6738		Details	Soule, George	1859	Very Rare Antebellum New Orleans advertisement Soule Commercial College Soule, George 1859 LOC:150	$6,500.00	Soule--George	Very-Rare-Antebellum-New-Orleans-advertisement-Soule-Commercial-College	Very rare New Orleans imprint antebellum broadsheet advertisement or "Balance Sheet Circular" produced by George Soule to advertise Soule's Commercial College, established 1856 at the corner of Camp Street and Common Street, in New Orleans, Louisiana. A finely detailed lithograph featuring exquisite calligraphy, numerous inset views of commercial activities, and four example financial statements, including at bottom right, "Statement of Steamer Eclipse Trip No. 8 T.R. Winn Master." <br><br> An online search found only one copy of Soule's "Balance Sheet Circular", at the Historic New Orleans Collection. <br><br> <div id="6738" align="center"> <a title=""></a> <img id="6738" src="/ZoomifyImages/SC_6738/SC_6738_400x300.jpg" alt=" Antebellum advertisement for Soule's Commercial College, established 1856 in New Orleans, LA." width="340"/> <br><br> <font size="-2">Soule's Commercial College Balance Sheet Circular</font> </div><br> Lithographed by J. Manouvrier. (2) This fine lithograph with beautiful calligraphy was printed in New Orleans in 1859, just after Soule opened the College at Camp and Common Streets. Between 1856 and 1860 Soule's Commercial College graduated a total of more than 275 students. By 1905 the school could boast 1000 students enrolled, 20 teachers, and over 19,000 former students. The school operated in New Orleans continuously, except for a few years during the Civil War, until 1983 when it finally closed. <br><br> <div id="6738_2" align="center"> <a title=""></a> <img id="6738_2" src="/ZoomifyImages/SC_6738/SC_6738_Detail_2.jpg" alt=" Antebellum advertisement for Soule's Commercial College, a view of Jackson Square." width="340"/> <br><br> <font size="-2">Early View of Jackson Square, New Orleans</font> </div>
6724		Details	Perry, Heather "Herry"	1930	Rare Art Deco Imperial and International Communications Ltd Map Puzzle Perry, Heather "Herry" 1930 LOC:500	$3,500.00	Perry--Heather-"Herry"	Rare-Art-Deco-Imperial-and-International-Communications-Ltd-Map-Puzzle	<br></br>Bring a piece of British telecommunications history to your collection. This exquisite, complete, and rare Art Deco style puzzle map of the Imperial and International Communications (IICL) network ca. 1930 precedes McDonald Gill's Cable and Wireless Great Circle map by 15 years and features elegant characters representing the Anemoi, mythological Roman wind gods, and the Greek wind gods or Venti: Boreas, Zephyrus, Notus, Eurus, Aquilo, Favonius, Auster, and Vulturnus. Green lines indicate the undersea cables of the IICL, while dotted green lines signify IICL wireless transmissions. <br><br> <div id="0" align="center"> <a title="Perry's Telecom Map Puzzle"></a> <img id="3" src="/zoomifyimages/SC_6724/SC_6724_Detail.jpg" alt="Art Deco details from Herry Perry map puzzle for Imperial and International Communications Ltd, 1930, London." width="350"/> <br><small>Detail from Herry Perry's Art Deco IICL map puzzle, 1930.</small> </div><br> The map was designed by Herry Perry and manufactured as a promotional item for the IICL, by the Chad Valley Company, an eminent English toy manufacturer . The Chad Valley Company was active from 1860 to 1978. Its products ranged from high-quality soft toys, educational puzzles, board games, to construction sets. <br></br> In 1929, the Imperial Telegraphs Act paved the way for the formation of two new companies that would merge the various telegraph and wireless services within the British Empire and create a coordinated global communications network. Initially, IICL focused on expanding its services within the British Empire, but it eventually expanded its coverage to other regions like the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. IICL merged with Cable & Wireless Limited in 1934. Includes the intact original puzzle box. <br><br> Don't miss out on the opportunity to own a rare and remarkable piece of British telecommunications history - purchase this Art Deco map puzzle of the IICL network today.
6559		Details	de Witt, Simeon	1890	Unusual manuscript trace map of New York state after Simeon de Witt 1802 de Witt, Simeon 1890 LOC:141	$350.00	de-Witt--Simeon	Unusual-manuscript-trace-map-of-New-York-state-after-Simeon-de-Witt-1802	One of a kind finely detailed manuscript blue ink trace of sheet 6 from "A Map of State of New York" after Simeon de Witt, 1802. On tracing cloth. This map represents an exceptional effort that likely took days for the anonymous creator to lay down. With a few manuscript notes at bottom right that suggest the trace was created from the copy of de Witt's map held at the New York Public Library (1). Estimated date of creation ca. 1890. <br><br> A fine gift for collectors of New York cartography or of rare cartographic oddities. <br><br> From an estate with three similar manuscript traced maps of foundational New York State maps by David H. Burr, and <a href="https://www.rarecharts.com/ShowDetail/Creator/Hawkes--W--and-Barber--J-/Title/Manuscript-isodistance-map-of-the-New-York-City-area-after-Hawkes-and-Barber/6560" target="_blank">Hawkes and Barber. </a> Some hydrographic and marshy features in green ink, red ink for roads and highways, brown for political boundaries. Simeon de Witt's original map did not use color to identify these features. At bottom right, in manuscript, a copy of the original title cartouche that was not originally placed on sheet 6, demonstrating the tracer's access to multiple sheets of de Wits map. <br><br> (1) Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library. "Map of the state of New York" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1802. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-f4d8-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
6560		Details	Hawkes, W. and Barber, J.	1890	Manuscript isodistance map of the New York City area after Hawkes and Barber Hawkes, W. and Barber, J. 1890 LOC:141	$700.00	Hawkes--W--and-Barber--J-	Manuscript-isodistance-map-of-the-New-York-City-area-after-Hawkes-and-Barber	Very unusual and one-of-a-kind manuscript traced map ca. 1890 (on tracing cloth) of the area around New York City- after Hawkes and Barber's "The Country twenty five miles round New York" (1777). Text below the map contains a list of important events during the U.S. Revolution in 1776. A key feature of the map is the early use of <b>isodistances</b>, concentric circles at increasing five-mile intervals centered on the city of New York. <br><br> This map represents an exceptional effort that likely took days for the anonymous creator to trace. Fine attention to detail and careful execution suggest that the copy was created for research purposes, or possibly for the purpose of producing blueprints from this master trace document. With a few manuscript notes at bottom right that suggest the trace was created from the copy of Hawkes and Barber's map held at the New York Public Library (1). <br><br> A fine gift for collectors of New York cartography or of rare cartographic oddities. <br><br> From an estate with three similar manuscript trace maps of foundational New York State maps by <a href="https://www.rarecharts.com/ShowDetail/Creator/de-Witt--Simeon/Title/Unusual-manuscript-trace-map-of-New-York-state-after-Simeon-de-Witt-1802/6559"" target="_blank"> Simeon de Witt </a> and David H. Burr. Riverine features in green ink, red ink for highways and roads, brown for political boundaries and for isodistances. <br><br> (1) Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library. "The Country twenty five miles round New York" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1777-01-01. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47da-ee36-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
6545		Details	Mason, Charles and Jeremiah Dixon	1769	Scarce Chesapeake region map from the survey of Mason and Dixon Mason, Charles and Jeremiah Dixon 1769 LOC:78	$400.00	Mason--Charles-and-Jeremiah-Dixon	Scarce-Chesapeake-region-map-from-the-survey-of-Mason-and-Dixon	Scarce map of the Chesapeake Bay region with portions of Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The map shows the results of Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon's survey of the boundary between the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Published in Gentleman's Magazine, 1769. <br><br> Surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon spent 58 months establishing the boundaries of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia. The team attained widespread recognition as the creators of the Mason-Dixon Line, the de facto border between the northern and southern United States. Key features include: the Potowmack River, Cape May, Cape Charles, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Annapolis. Shows several of the key roads in use during the mid 18th-century.
6487		Details	Anonymous	1938	Roadside attraction flyer for mythical Hidden City South Dakota Anonymous 1938 LOC:78	$135.00	Anonymous	Roadside-attraction-flyer-for-mythical-Hidden-City-South-Dakota	Very scarce advertising flyer ca. 1938 with map for the long-forgotten <strong>Hidden City</strong>, a roadside attraction in South Dakota's Black Hills; Admission 25 cents. <br><br> <div id="ll" align="center"> <a title="Hidden City, SD"></a> <img id="ii" src="/ZoomifyImages/SC_6487/SC_6487_DinoSign.jpg" alt="1940s sign for Hidden City Roadside Attraction" width="260"/> <br><small>1940s road sign for Hidden City <br>(not included)</small> </div><br> The recto teases "Did Alley Oop ? ? ? ? ? ." "Prehistoric Walls, Cross Walls, Arches and Pavements with Hieroglyphics. Lost City?" and includes a crude drawing of 1930s artist's concept of a caveman, complete with loincloth and club. <br><br> </ul> </div> <div id="1z" align="center"> <a title="Hidden City, SD"></a> <img id="3" src="/ZoomifyImages/SC_6487/SC_6487_Detail.jpg" alt="" width="300"/> <br><small>Hidden City, South Dakota Roadside Attraction</small> </div><br> Verso with a road map of South Dakota highlighting the location of a number of area attractions, both large and small. The less well-known of these attractions include: <div class="indenttextblocksingle"> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"></li> <li>Black Hills Rock Museum</li> <li>Black Hills Sugar Factory, Belle Fourche</li> <li>Stage Barn Caverns</li> <li>Water Carnival and Race Meet</li> <li>Nameless Cave</li> <li>Strato Bowl</li> </ul> </div> Earl Brockelsby, who later started another attraction in 1937, Reptile Gardens, worked as a tour guide at Hidden City.
6393		Details	Anonymous	1967	San Francisco Protest March map, route instructions and monitors armband. Anonymous 1967 LOC:78	$275.00	Anonymous	San-Francisco-Protest-March-map--route-instructions-and-monitors-armband-	April 15, 1967 San Francisco, California protest march map, monitor instructions, and a crude cloth armband for a march monitor. Rare. <br><br> On April 15, 1967 amidst growing opposition to the U.S. war in Vietnam, large-scale anti-war protests were held in New York, San Francisco, and many other cities. <br><br> Numerous "monitor's notes" including: <br><br> "So far we have had good relations with the police and we would like to keep it that way". "Above all -keep cool; <b>the armband as a symbol of authority will handle most situations by itself</b>".
6382		Details	VX9A	1975	Scarce map of Sable Island, Nova Scotia in the form of a QSL card. VX9A 1975 LOC:78	$150.00	VX9A	Scarce-map-of-Sable-Island--Nova-Scotia-in-the-form-of-a-QSL-card-	Scarce pictorial map of Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada as a QSL card. A QSL card is a written confirmation of two-way radiocommunication between two amateur radio stations, in this case between VX9A on Sable Island and W4UW on the 40 mhz (shortwave band) on November 2, 1975. <br></br> On card stock with one vertical and two horizontal folds, as issued. Verso with text and halftone images.
5364		Details	Anonymous	1909	Pair of manuscript allegorical Maps of the Heart, anatomically correct. Anonymous 1909 LOC:13	$1,100.00	Anonymous	Pair-of-manuscript-allegorical-Maps-of-the-Heart--anatomically-correct-	Two rare <b>manuscript pen and ink</b> anatomically-correct heart-shaped geographical guides or allegorical maps: "Map of Man's Heart" and "Map of Woman's Heart". Both maps are attributed within circular cartouches reading "Surveyed and Drawn by HUB. Scale 2 miles = 1". 1909." This style of anatomical heart-shaped maps and some of the traits are not found anywhere online. <br></br> After similar Victorian-era maps by D.W. Kellogg & Co. of Connecticut ca. 1840. Unlike this manuscript pair of maps, the Kellogg lithographs were based on a stylized and exaggerated bi-lobed conception of the heart- the "Valentine" heart that we know today. Despite the differences in wording of traits, the theme of negative stereotypes for women is the same. <br></br> Map of Man's Heart includes large areas devoted to patience, modesty, fidelity (twice), benevolence, humanity, knowledge and love. On the other hand, the Map of Woman's Heart largely features conceit, jealousy, scandal, duplicity, deceit, fickleness and avarice among other traits. The woman's heart is pierced by the "River Tongue" and surrounded on one side by the "kleptomaniac ocean" and on the other side, the "cantankerous ocean". <br></br> Seller attributes the provenance to India "it came from a nurses friendship book, she being based in Bangalore India - her name was probably MacDonald."
5351		Details	City of Tarragona	1833	Very rare antique port pass for Tarragona, Spain wine related with map City of Tarragona 1833 LOC:57	$900.00	City-of-Tarragona	Very-rare-antique-port-pass-for-Tarragona--Spain-wine-related-with-map	Handsome, finely engraved, signed antique ship's port pass and anchorage plan for the U.S. Brigantine "Hancock" at the port of Tarragona, Spain along the Mediterranean Sea. The port pass, dated within at 1833, includes a large anchorage plan with numerous soundings for the port for Tarragona, with sailing directions in three languages [1] and a description of the ship's cargo of wine and aguardiente. Spanish text. <br></br> Rare. No holdings of this item are listed in WorldCat and only one record of a sale of a similar document, from 1820. <br></br> Bearing the armorial seal of Tarragona, Spain, the document is topped with a view of the walled city of Tarragona below a Latin scroll touting the safety and health of "Tarraco" [2]. At bottom the signers specify the pass applies specifically to the United States Bergantine (Brig) Hancok (Hancock ?), captained by Ebenezer L. Higgins [3], with a crew of eight sailors. Dated to February 12, 1833 the pass specifies the cargo exported from Tarragona to Brazil consisted of "vino tinto" (red wine), "aguardiente refinado" (brandy) and "aguardiente anisado" (an anise-flavored liqueur popular today in Colombia) [4]. <br></br> SOURCES: <br> [1] "Cape Salou bears from the point of the mole to the So[luth] 5° O. 7 miles distant & Cape Gros or Pointe de la Mora to the east 12° 30' N. 6 1/2 miles distant. The soundings are denoted in Spanish feet of which 35 make 32 English feet." <br> [2] "Salutem et Sanitatem en Capite insigni Despectans Tarraco Pontum." <br> [3] Possibly Captain Ebenezer Higgins of Provincetown, Mass. (b. 1807) who died at the helm of the schooner Been Atkins on June 8, 1846 while bound for Norfolk, Virginia. (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120392629/ebenezer-higgins) <br> [4] Colome-Ferrer, Josep and Ferrer, Loren. The importance of the liquor sector in Catalan viticulture in the 18th and 19th centuries. (From Spanish) Journal of Industrial History. No. 79. 2020.
5334		Details	National Aeronautics and Space Administration	1966	NASA glossy publicity photo of J . F. K. Space Center map National Aeronautics and Space Administration 1966 LOC:11	$100.00	National-Aeronautics-and-Space-Administration	NASA-glossy-publicity-photo-of-J---F--K---Space-Center-map	An original NASA unclassified glossy black and white publicity photograph of a NASA birdseye view map of the John F. Kennedy Space Center and the surrounding area in eastern and central Florida. Dated on verso to 8/8/66. <br></br> The photograph shows a map, apparently tacked to a bulletin board, ranging in coverage as far as Orlando, Oak Hills, and Eau Galle, Florida. Key points of interest shown include: McCoy Air Force Base, Patrick Air Force Base, Cocoa Beach, the St. Johns River, Indian River, Banana River, and Mosquito Inlet. At the lower left corner is a key or context map showing the location of the map relative to the entire state of Florida. <br></br> When the photo was published in August, 1966 NASA was winding down the last two of 19 Gemini program missions to place a capsule with two astronauts into Earth orbit. The final two launches in the Gemini program were: <br></br> <div class="indenttextblocksingle"> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"> <li>Pete Conrad and Richard Gordon. Launched September 12, 1966</li> <li>Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin. Launched November 11, 1966</li> </ul> </div>
5300		Details	Liverpool, J.	1880	Quackery trade card Charlestown map Dr. J. Liverpool, Great Indian Herb Doctor Liverpool, J. 1880 LOC:300	$2,500.00	Liverpool--J-	Quackery-trade-card-Charlestown-map-Dr--J--Liverpool--Great-Indian-Herb-Doctor	Exceedingly rare and desirable trade card, in the form of a fan, ca. 1880 for Dr. J. Liverpool "The Great Indian Herb Doctor" with a map of Charlestown, Mass. - "Official Plan Battle of Bunker Hill" on verso. An advertisement for quack cures and treatments. <br></br> No other example found anywhere on this planet. <br></br> Advertising trade card in the form of a octagonal fan, mounted to a handle. <br></br> Recto: <br></br> <div class="indenttextblocksingle" style="text-align: center;"> "The Wonder of the World Dr. J. Liverpool Office and Laboratory 81 Green Street Boston, Mass. <br></br> Where he may be consulted daily free of charge.<br></br> Office hours 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. <br></br> Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For the benefit of the laboring class. <br></br> All chronic diseases treated with nature's own remedies, ROOTS, HERBS, BARKS <br>Use no more poisonous drugs.<br></br> GO AT ONCE AND SEE HIM!<br></br> Delays are Dangerous.<br></br> Your disease may be curable to-day - not tomorrow - therefore do not delay. He has cured thousands where others have failed." <br></br> </div> Verso:<br></br> <div class="indenttextblocksingle" style="text-align: center;"> "Official Plan Battle of Bunker Hill<br></br> June 17, 1775<br></br> Manufactured and Printed by L.F. Lawrence & Co.<br></br> 161 & 171 Devonshire and 30 & 32 Arch Streets, BOSTON." </div> <br></br> Note: Dr. Liverpool's address at 81 Green Street, Charlestown, Mass, was one block from Bunker Hill Street and four blocks from the Bunker Hill Monument. Newspaper advertisements in 1882 for Dr. J. Liverpool recorded his address as 833 Tremont Street.
5229		Details	Hoff, P. J.	1956	Early Television Weather Map P. J. Hoff Chicago WBBM Channel 2 Hoff, P. J. 1956 LOC:53	$770.00	Hoff--P--J-	Early-Television-Weather-Map-P--J--Hoff-Chicago-WBBM-Channel-2	Rare manuscript cartoon television weather map for the Chicago, Illinois area from Friday, September 14, 1956. With a very unusual mechanical enhancement (string) for animating the map that foreshadows later computer-generated animation of TV weather maps. <br></br> This manuscript map was drawn during the early days of television by P. J. Hoff, one of Chicago's best known TV's personalities, at WBBM Channel 2. Hoff was known for his large weather maps drawn with a black wide-tipped marker and populated with two-dimensional cut-outs representing weather features: clouds, raindrops, umbrellas, suns, and an assortment of cartoon characters including Nanook North Wind, Susanna South Wind, and "The Vice President in Charge of Looking Out the Window." <br></br> Here the "V.P." is fashioned with two strings to permit the character to be pulled though a wringer with a bucket at the bottom labeled "H 2 0". All in fun to illustrate the forecast for rain. At right, a Chinese character promises more of the same weather in the eastern part of the weather area: "Allee Samee Okley You Sneeze." Today that stereotype would be considered politically incorrect. <br></br> With an ink MS dedication by Hoff to David Rowley. <br></br> Hoff (1896-1981) was born Piercy J. Hoffstrom in Mounds, Oklahoma. In 1963 Hoff was so well known locally that he patented and sold a "P.J. Hoff Weather Kit" with a printed blank map, cut-out characters, and other weather-related items based on his on-air maps as his prototype. In 1968, after a career as a columnist, cartoonist, and radio/TV personality Hoff retired to Saint Simons Island, Georgia. <br></br> WBBM-TV began as WXBK in 1940, but in 1953 was sold to CBS in a complex swap whereby CBS took over WBBM-TV. <br></br> Source </br> https://www.robertfeder.com/2014/09/10/remembering-p-j-hoff-chicagos-original-weatherman-with-character/
5222		Details	Paine, Howard E.	1963	Lot of 3 manuscript design options for Round Earth on Flat Paper NGS Paine, Howard E. 1963 LOC:62	$1,200.00	Paine--Howard-E-	Lot-of-3-manuscript-design-options-for-Round-Earth-on-Flat-Paper-NGS	Three manuscript sketches, design options by Howard Paine for The Round Earth on Flat Paper used on the inside back cover of the National Geographic Society's first Atlas of the World. <i>(National Geographic Society. 1963.)</i>. From the estate of Howard Paine, Art Director at National Geographic until 1990. <br><br> Note: The first image of the four displayed, is from the 1963 NGS Atlas and is for comparison only. Not included. <br><br> The booklet "The Round Earth on Flat Paper: Map Projections Used by Cartographers" by Wellman Chamberlin was first published by the National Geographic Society in 1947. In 1963 Chamberlin and Paine collaborated on the design of the inside back and front covers for National Geographic's first <b>"Atlas of the World"</b>: <i>The Earth in Space and The Round Earth on Flat Paper</i>. For <i>The Round Earth on Flat Paper</i> Paine sketched several alternate options. The influence of Paine's early designs are evident in the final design selected for the atlas. <br><br> From 1957 to 1990 Howard Paine was a Graphic Artist and eventually Art Director at National Geographic. Mr. Paine was responsible for design changes to the National Geographic magazine cover that over time replaced the old-fashioned border of clustered oak and laurel leaves with a simplified, more modern design that included photographs. Also, during the period 1981 to 2012 Mr. Paine was Art Director for the U.S. Postal Service. In that role Paine was responsible for the design of over 400 stamps including the 29-cent Elvis Presley stamp, with over 500 million sold. <br><br> Sources: <br> http://www.howardepaine.com/ngs.php
5220		Details	Women's Army Corps	1944	Stand-up Poster for WAC Topographic Draftsman Women's Army Corps 1944 LOC:13	$225.00	Women-s-Army-Corps	Stand-up-Poster-for-WAC-Topographic-Draftsman	Among the key events impacting the women's movement was World War II. With men away at war, tens of thousands of women entered the workforce to meet the demands of the war for labor. Among the most well-known was "Rosie the Riveter". Here we might have an advertisement to fill the job of "Carrol the Cartographer". <br></br> A table-top, stand-up World War II recruitment poster printed on heavy card stock for the Women's Army Corps (WAC) depicting a woman drawing on a map with pencil and protractor. The job specialty promoted is Topographic Draftsman, part of the Army Ground Forces. <br></br> With a black ink over-stamp for the U. S. Army Recruiting Station, Room 217 New Post Office Building, Utica N. Y. Illustration is signed but unreadable.
5089		Details	WBOP Radio	1963	WBOP All-Negro AM Radio Pensacola Florida Coverage Map WBOP Radio 1963 LOC:11	$225.00	WBOP-Radio	WBOP-All-Negro-AM-Radio-Pensacola-Florida-Coverage-Map	Coverage contour map for AM radio station WBOP in Pensacola, Florida from September 1963. Map compiled by Bill Lee of WLAK Electronics Service, Lakeland, Florida. With consumer marketing data for the black population in the WBOP market area. African-American interest. Station coverage extends as far north as South Flomaton and as far east as Foley, Florida.
5090		Details	Diamond Match Company	1942	Galapagos Islands survey by U.S.S. Bowditch match book cover Diamond Match Company 1942 LOC:13	$40.00	Diamond-Match-Company	Galapagos-Islands-survey-by-U-S-S--Bowditch-match-book-cover	Scarce matchbook cover for the 386-foot U.S. Navy survey vessel U.S.S. Bowditch with an index map for their cruises of 1942-1943 to the Galapagos Islands, a part of Chile. Manufactured by the Diamond Match Company N.Y.C. <br></br> The USS Bowditch (AG 30) was first launched in 1929 at Copenhagen, Denmark, as the passenger ship Santa Inez. The Bowditch was outfitted as a surveying vessel and commissioned on 1 July 1940, with Commander E. E. Duval in command. <br></br> Departing Norfolk on 9 January 1942, the U.S.S. Bowditch steamed south to conduct surveys of the waters between Panama and Colombia, off the Galápagos Islands, and off the Cocos Islands in Costa Rica. <br></br> The following U.S. Navy charts were based on surveys conducted by the U.S.S. Bowditch in 1942 and 1943: <div class="indenttextblocksingle"> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"> <li># 5936 Approaches to Bahia Bartago, Archipielago de Colon (Galapagos Islands). 1942.</li> <li># 5921 Eastern Approaches to Canal de San Salvador, Archipielago Colon (Galapagos Islands). 1943.</li> <li># 5931 Western approaches to Canal Bolivar, Archipielago de Colon (Galapagos Island). 1942.</li> <li># 5920 Isle Baltra, Archipielago de Colon (Galapagos Islands). 1942.</li> <li># 5959: Golfo de Guyaquil. 1943.</li> </ul> </div> The USS Bowditch was decommissioned in January, 1947
4942		Details	Coronelli, Vincenzo	1689	Globe Celeste Coronelli, Vincenzo 1689 LOC:62	$650.00	Coronelli--Vincenzo	Globe-Celeste	A copper-plate engraved view of the Globe Celeste of Vincenzo Maria Coronelli (1650-1718), considered as one of Italy's most famous and greatest cartographers. Coronelli was an Italian Franciscan friar, cartographer, cosmographer and encyclopedist, a trained wood engraver who studied astronomy, Euclidean geometry and ancient philosophy and was named cosmographer for the Republic of Venice. <br></br> Coronelli became most famous for his very large globes built in Paris from 1681-1683 at the order of King Louis XIV. His terrestrial and celestial globes measured 3.9 meters in diameter and were not equaled for more than 200 years. <br></br> The print, dated within at 1689, celebrates the consecration of the Celestial Globe in 1683 by Cardinal Destrees. Scarce. Only two sales recorded in the AMPR.
4898		Details	International Correspondence Schools	1949	Radio. Radio. International Correspondence Schools 1949 LOC:0	$100.00	International-Correspondence-Schools	Radio--Radio-	From "Radio and Electronics: Training for Today's Opportunities". A cover from an early mad-man era brochure that combines the iconography of cartography and of electronics with simple bold graphics to persuade readers to set their lives in a new direction through an electronics training course. Further, the user could fine-tune his education through careful selection of courses. Brochure of 32 pages published by International Correspondence Schools of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Content is careers, benefits, courses and subjects taught. With an inserted application form. <br></br> On the face of a what would be a radio dial, the artist has cleverly used familiar compass directions rather than the expected frequency indicators one would see on a radio. Jagged lighting bolts, used instead of rhumb lines, reinforce the impression of the single-word title "Radio". Overall, the message is "Radio and electronics can set your life in a new direction." That is a lot of words to describe what the graphic was intended to convey at a glance. <br></br> <div class="indenttextblock"> "... the strength of the ICS system lay in its ability to introduce, in relatively simple language, subjects that its students may have thought were beyond their intellectual reach and then build gradually to mastery of fields like electrical or chemical engineering. In essence, ICS and other correspondence schools attempted to demystify industrial technology and science, to bring them down from their pedestals at the same time that Americans were barraged by and frightened by technological advances and yearned to understand and embrace them."(Watkinson, James D. Education for Success: The International Correspondence Schools of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Penn. Mag of History and Biography. Vol CXX No. 4. October, 1996. P. 364.) </div>
4870		Details	U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research	1944	WWII three-dimensional weather map training simulator. U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research 1944 LOC:0	$300.00	U-S--Navy-Office-of-Naval-Research	WWII-three-dimensional-weather-map-training-simulator-	From the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research Special Devices Center, a set of three, three-dimensional pilot training weather simulators (Device 12-K-2a) produced during WWII. This device is noteworthy for its connection to Rear Admiral Luis de Florez (1889-1962) who established the Special Devices Desk at the U.S. Navy during WWII. <br></br> De Florez, an MIT graduate, was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the National Center for Simulation in 2014. <div class="indenttextblocksingle"> "As both an active duty and a retired U.S. Navy Admiral, de Florez was influential in the development of early flight simulators, and was a pioneer in the use of virtual reality to simulate flight and combat situations in World War II." <br></br> "In 1941 ... Commander de Florez became head of the new Special Devices Desk in the Engineering Division of the Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics. De Florez championed the use of synthetic training devices and urged the Navy to undertake development of such devices to increase readiness." <br></br> During World War II, he was subsequently promoted to captain and then to Flag rank, becoming a rear admiral in 1944.In 1944, de Florez was awarded the Robert J. Collier Trophy for 1943 for his work in training combat pilots and flight crews through the development of inexpensive synthetic devices. (https://www.simulationinformation.com/hall-of-fame/members/luis-de-florez) </div> <BR /> Set of 3 folding weather map models on heavy card stock that present a three-dimensional view of typical cyclonic storms: <div class="indenttextblocksingle"> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"> <li>Map 1. Early Stage of Development</li> <li>Map 2. Cold-Front type occlusion</li> <li>Map 3. Warm front type occlusion</li> </ul></div> Each model depicts a single storm through a series of eight slices or sections representing storm development across a front of 800 miles and a depth of 1000 miles at a single point in time.
4862		Details	Foreman, D. H.	1916	Antique Plans Hidden Treasure Mine Lake City, Colorado Foreman, D. H. 1916 LOC:0	$3,250.00	Foreman--D--H-	Antique-Plans-Hidden-Treasure-Mine-Lake-City--Colorado	The most interesting set of gold mining plans I have seen! <br><br> A very absorbing pair of fine antique presentation plans for the Hidden Treasure Mine at Lake City, in Hinsdale County, Colorado between Crystal Creek and Ute Creek. The Hidden Treasure Mine (1897-1922) was a gold, silver, lead, and copper mine located at an elevation of 10,200 feet. <br><br> Both plans are hand-colored blue-line artifacts on architectural vellum. <b>Plan 1 includes:</b> <div class="indenttextblocksingle"> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"> <li>Fig 1. Plan Map of the Hidden Treasure Property</li> <li>Fig 2. Longitudinal Section of Slope of Vein Looking West.</li> <li>Fig 3. Plan of Underground Workings.</li> </ul> </div> <b>Plan 2 includes:</b> <div class="indenttextblocksingle"> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"> <li>Fig 4. Longitudinal Section Underground Workings. Looking West.</li> <li>Fig 5. Cross-section Through "X-Y" (Plate 1) Looking S.W.</li> <li>Sampling data and ore valuation table.</li> </ul> </div> Dated within to 12/20/16. Drawn by D.H. Foreman, Denver, Colorado. <br></br> The old Hidden Treasure Dam on Henson Creek, built in the 1890's, made the news in late May, 2019. It was announced that the dam was to be demolished because of the concern for flash floods associated with the potential for sudden heavy snowmelt. (Source: https://www.cpr.org/news/story/historic-hidden-treasure-dam-is-coming-down-to-ease-the-flood-threat-to-lake-city) <br></br> On Fig 1. Plan Map of the Hidden Treasure Property two tunnels are shown leading to the Lower Terminal Mill. More than 100 years old, the Hard Tack Mine tunnel was built as an underground transport tunnel for the Hidden Treasure Mining Company's ore production one quarter mile up the mountain (shown here as "proposed"). The Hardtack Mine now (2024) houses a museum designed to preserve area mining history and offers tours June to September.
4853		Details	Hampton Yacht Club	1941	Hampton Yacht Club Regatta Cyanotype Map Hampton Yacht Club 1941 LOC:13	$250.00	Hampton-Yacht-Club	Hampton-Yacht-Club-Regatta-Cyanotype-Map	Unusual self-published cyanotype (blueprint) course map of the Hampton Yacht Club 14th Annual Regatta July 5 and 6 at Hampton, Virginia, complete with a sketch of an undulating sea serpent (rarely found on a cyanotype) and another small cartoon at the Hampton Bar. The course chart shows the coast outline with the offshore one-fathom line and the beacons and buoys marking the course. <br></br> This pre-war cartographic artifact is sold with two included documents: <div class="indenttextblocksingle"> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"> <li>A printed summary of the Regatta's sailing event with notes on prizes, courses, starting signals, rules for resolving protests, and a schedule of sailing events. For a map of the course the summary states: "See chart no. 400 and blueprint copies of part of the same which will be available at the clubhouse."</li> <li> A one-page type-written set of Racing Rules for Warwick One Design Dinghies.</li> </ul> </div>Top left corner "H.K.S. 7/3/41"
4806		Details	Wilcox and Follett Co.	1944	Advertisement for Octovue Map on Pitner's Projection Wilcox and Follett Co. 1944 LOC:88	$350.00	Wilcox-and-Follett-Co-	Advertisement-for-Octovue-Map-on-Pitner-s-Projection	Scarce color brochure from 1944 explains and promotes Wilcox and Follet Co's Octovue map, their <b>New Air Age Educational -- Indispensable! WORLD MAP.</b> All on one single folding sheet printed front and back with 8 pages total in color. Folded size 5" x 8". <br></br> The Octovue map was one of the few maps to use the Pitner map projection. According to this brochure with the Pitner projection: <div class="indenttextblock"> "The globe is divided into eight uniform spherical triangular sections: four North and four South of the equator…. each transposed onto a flat surface. … the first map ever made to transpose the round world onto a flat sheet without distortion or exaggeration of shapes, sizes, and distances." </div> <br></br> Last page details what the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in <i>Elements of Map Projections</i> consider to be the "Ideal Map" and provides reasoning for consideration of the Octovue map over all others. <br></br> Copyright 1944 by L.E. Pitner. Brochure edited by Harold B. Ward Ph.D. F.R.G.S.
5194		Details	Pitner, L. E.	1944	Illustrated Octovue Map on Pitner's Projection Pitner, L. E. 1944 LOC:53	$350.00	Pitner--L--E-	Illustrated-Octovue-Map-on-Pitner-s-Projection	Rare and unusual world map on the Pitner projection. First edition. Illustrated with hundreds of small drawings of flora, fauna, native tribes, buildings, transportation and landmarks. With 5 inset maps on the Mercator and other more common projections. Card covers with map still attached. <br></br> The Illustrated World Octovue Projection Edited by Harold B. Ward Ph. D. F.R.G.S. Designed and Published by L.E. Pitner 229 W. Mineral Street, Milwaukee, Wis. Copyright November 3, 1944 by L.E. Pitner The Octovue map was one of the few maps to use the Pitner map projection. The Pitner projection is explained as: <div class="indenttextblocksingle"> "The globe is divided into eight uniform spherical triangular sections: four North and four South of the equator…. each transposed onto a flat surface. … the first map ever made to transpose the round world onto a flat sheet without distortion or exaggeration of shapes, sizes, and distances." </div> An earlier version of the Pitner projection map was published in 1943 on a single-sided sheet as the "Air Age Octovue Map of the World". Again edited by Ward with a 1943 copyright by Pitner. That version of the map lacks the illustrations and some of the map elements from the verso of our map are on the recto of the 1943 version. <br></br> The Pitner projection was similar to the Lambert Azimuthal Equal-area projection. <br></br>
4706		Details	Fortin, J.	1775	Antique star chart of the Southern Hemisphere after Lacaille Fortin, J. 1775 LOC:13	$280.00	Fortin--J-	Antique-star-chart-of-the-Southern-Hemisphere-after-Lacaille	Fine decorative antique hand-colored engraved celestial star chart for the Southern Hemisphere from the Atlas Céleste de Flamstéed, updated and reduced by J. Fortin in 1776. This map of the Southern skies is based on Nicolas Louis de Lacaille’s star chart from 1754 in which Lacaille included 14 new constellations. <br></br> Lacaille sailed to South Africa in 1750 where he set up a small observatory at the Cape of Good Hope under the famous Table Mountain, which impressed him so much that he later named a constellation after it, Mensa. At the Cape in 1751 - 52 Lacaille observed the positions of nearly 10,000 stars. On his return to France in 1754, Lacaille presented a map of the southern skies to the French Royal Academy of Sciences which included 14 new constellations of his own invention. An engraved version of his celestial map was published in the Academy’s Mémoires in 1756 and Lacaille’s new constellations were rapidly accepted by other astronomers. <br></br> Flamsteed was born into a prosperous family & was largely self taught as he did not attend University due to poor health. He was appointed the first Astronomer Royal by King Charles II, with the Royal Observatory at Greenwich being built for him to continue his astronomical observations. Flamsteed's Celestial Atlas was first published ten years posthumously by his wife in 1729. It set the standard in professional astronomy for almost a century, with the positions of over 3,000 stars given more accurately than ever before. <br></br> French text for names of stars and constellations. Page 29. Lettered by Beauble' ; engraved by C.E. Voisard.
1457		Details	Gold, Joyce	1804	Chart of the Supposed Course of the Florida Stream Gold, Joyce 1804 LOC:3	$400.00	Gold--Joyce	Chart-of-the-Supposed-Course-of-the-Florida-Stream	Graphically arresting thematic chart of the "Florida Stream" or Gulf Stream with its flow northwards up the east coast of the United States, well past Bermuda, and then into the North Atlantic Ocean. Direction of the Gulf Stream current is shown visually by arrows supplemented with written notations indicating the compass direction at several locations across the stream. <br></br> The map may be considered to be an example of persuasive cartography. The concept of the Gulf Stream was novel at that time (hence the "supposed"); many mariners had not fully adopted the notion when this map was published. The direction and flow of the Gulf Stream was proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1770 based on measurements he took during voyages from the U.S. to England and France. <br></br> London Published May 31, 1804 by J. Gold, 103 Shoe Lane.
1379		Details	Vaugondy, Robert de	1778	Fine Antique Speculative Map of North America Vaugondy, Robert de 1778 LOC:10	$350.00	Vaugondy--Robert-de	Fine-Antique-Speculative-Map-of-North-America	A good example of Robert de Vaugondy's 1778 map of North America's English Possessions incorporating his speculative geography of the American northwest. The map covers from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico and from the Atlantic Ocean to Texas, then "Nouveau Mexique". <br></br> This map's most interesting features are in the large inset in the upper left quadrant illustrating Vaugondy's speculative geography of the American Northwest. The map features the Sea of the West (Mer de L'Ouest), the discoveries of Admiral de Fonte, the discoveries of Bernarda, the Strait of Anian, and the mythical kingdoms of Quivira and Teguaio. <br></br> There is no reliable evidence to authenticate either the existence of Admiral de Fonte himself or of the voyage. The account of de Fonte's voyage, first published in 1708, took the form of a letter by de Fonte in which he described himself as “then Admiral of New Spain and Peru, and now Prince of Chili.” The story is now attributed to the editor of the London Magazine. <br></br> Perhaps Vaugondy was attempting a bit of "fake news" and trying to muddy the waters over the English claims to North American territory by including these speculative geographic features into the map. <br></br> From Vaugondy's "Nouvel atlas portatif ". Engraved by Dussy.