A Pictorial Map of Alaska the 49th State [Alaskaland]

We all scream for ice cream!

This lively pictorial map of Alaska was originally designed and drawn by Ernest Dudley Chase in 1959 to celebrate the official admission of the 49th to the United States of America. This is a later example, copywritten by the Alaska News Agency (1965) and then the Alaskaland Ice Cream Parlor, Inc. (1969). While lacking the clarity and fine details of the original, the map retains its vibrant mid-century charm and presents a fun and informative overview of ‘The Last Frontier.’

The verso of the sheet presents a menu for the Alaska-themed restaurant, which began in Anchorage but branched into franchises in the continental U.S. Illustrated by Jim Tapscott, the bill of fare is presented in a whimsical style that is a unique blend of pirate, Inuit, prospector, and roadside diner.

Ernest Dudley Chase (1878-1966) was born in Boston and began his career crafting greeting cards before finding his artistic niche in the 1930s with intricately detailed pictorial maps. Self-published from his home studio, Chase’s maps, exceeding 50 in total, captured diverse locations and themes, ranging from historical events to technological advancements. He meticulously hand-drawn each scene, imbuing his maps with a unique blend of scholarly detail, wit, and patriotism. Though commercially successful in their time, Chase’s maps are now prized by collectors and scholars for their distinctive style and whimsical take on cartography.