Illustrated Map of the Route of Transcontinental Air Transport, Inc.

A magnificent souvenir from the early days of commercial aviation.

Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT) was an early American airline founded in 1928 that was one of the first to offer commercial passenger service from coast to coast. Derided by some critics as ‘Take-a-Train’, the innovative idea was expensive (about $350) and required multiple trips on railroads between legs in the air. The company hemorrhaged cash, and in 1930 merged with Western Air Express to form Transcontinental & Western Air (TW&A), a predecessor to Trans-World Airlines (TWA).

This stunning souvenir map was distributed to passengers on board the short-lived flights of the 1929 season. Its luxurious composition on thick paper nestled between two gilt covers may have contributed to the company’s financial woes! The image presents a map of the United States that highlights the air (purple) and railroad (black) segments of the trip. Other railways are also noted, their meandering routes contrasting sharply with the crisp airway line.

Scattered vignettes highlight America’s rich natural beauty and numerous scenic attractions. An elevation profile running along the bottom of the page accentuates this geographic diversity, while a border comprised of 30 illustrated scenes shows major cities and other points of interest around the country. The verso shows a simple diagram of TAT routes and supporting operations, as well as a ‘Certificate of Flight’ on which the passenger could record their journey. This particular example, signed by the captain, flew aboard the City of Alberquerque between Columbus, OH and Kansas City, MO on May 30th, 1930.