Sportsmen’s Map of the United States and Canada
Mid-century pictorial map showcasing North America’s natural diversity.
Out of stock
Description
This splendid map of the United States and Canada was illustrated by R.L. McCollister and published by the New England Homestead around 1956, based on the game laws listed at the top of the sheet. Designed to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts, the image is a vibrant representation of the distribution of common species of birds, mammals, and fish that reside across North America. Scenes of hunting and fishing are scattered throughout, while portraits of a brown bear, whitetail buck, rainbow trout, and a pair of mallard ducks – all iconic American animals – can be seen in the corners.
The map is on one of three sheets that were issued together to hang on walls and classrooms throughout the distribution radius of the New England Homestead near the beginning of the Vietnam War. The verso of the first sheet presents a colorful ‘Political Map of Asiatic Coastal Area’ by the Geographical Publishing Company of Chicago. It shows Southeast Asia with a divided Vietnam and an apparently autonomous Cochinchina, with an inset of Formosa (Taiwan) in the upper left. The image is surrounded by the flags of the United Nations.
The second sheet shows a road map of the state of New York, with the lower half occupied by a comprehensive index of towns using census data from 1950. The verso of the second sheet is a map of the United States accompanied by portraits and biographies of the presidents from George Washington to Dwight Eisenhower. The third and final sheet includes maps of Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Arabia (highlighting oil pipelines), Iran, Ethiopia, Israel, and North East Africa – all political hotbeds around the time of publication.
A scarce production not noted in OCLC or Rumsey. One previous auction record has been found for the 1954-55 Game Season and maps by the Geographical Publishing Company are not necessarily uncommon, though the entire collection was designed to be re-issued annually and thus ephemeral.
Map Details
Publication Date: 1956
Author: R.L. McCollister
Sheet Width (in): 27.5
Sheet Height (in): 35
Condition: B
Condition Description: The first of three double sided sheets affixed to a thin metal bar with circular loops. The bar is bent and worn with age, resulting in some creasing along the top of the sheet. Moderate wear visible along the bottom of each page, including some scattered discoloration and tearing. Several old repairs with cellophane and Scotch tape, though the image is unaffected. Good condition overall.
Out of stock