Clason’s Touring Atlas of the United States with Road Maps of Every States, and Ontario and Quebec, Canada

Introducing America to the new National Numbered Highway System.

“It is with much satisfaction that the publishers of this Atlas include for the first time in any publication the correct routing and numbering for the approved system of United States Highways.” – pg. 1.

This 1927 atlas, published in Chicago by the Clason Map Company, is an important of the transition to the U.S. Numbered Highway System. Issued just months after the federal system was finalized in late 1926, it is one of the earliest commercial guides to replace “Auto Trail” names with standardized federal shields.

In addition to an Official Map of the entire highway network, the atlas provides full-page road maps for every state, plus Ontario and Quebec. Each map uses red overprinting to highlight the new U.S. Highways, while different styles of lines identify the roadway surfaces – paved, gravel, dirt, etc. Distances between points are noted, and a town index is provided, making for convenient travel references. Also of note is the Log of United States Highways, which includes an early pathing for Route 66.

A colorful paper cover indicates this example of the atlas was distributed by the Columbus Dispatch Tours Club. Copy text on the back claims it is the FIRST NEWSPAPER in Automobile News. It was standard practice during the 1920s for major newspapers like the Columbus Dispatch to operate dedicated “Tours Clubs” or travel bureaus as a primary service to their subscribers.