Topographical Sketch of Properties The Death Valley Exploration Co.

“Courage, Death, Water, and Perseverance Uncovered This Golden Wealth”

This eye-catching, if somewhat ambiguous, bird’s eye view highlights a parcel of rugged terrain in Death’s Valley, California. According to the accompanying text, the land was said to hold vast quantities of high-grade gold ore and, perhaps more importantly, had ready access to “a large stream of water” and “a world of vegetation.”

The image was designed as the centerpiece of a promotional brochure for the Death Valley Exploration Company in 1929, looking to solicit investors who ‘want in on a real mining opportunity.’ The company hired mining engineer Frank A. Buck to survey the Death Valley property, and he reported finding sufficient water and precious minerals to regard the properties’ potential as “a true millionaire-making gold mine.” An important caveat at the bottom of the page notes – “Information contained in this circular has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed.”

The pamphlet is accompanied by a letter by Meyer, Martin, & Co. – a brokerage service in Denver – that further sings praises for the potential financial gains: “Very soon now these ores will be running thru the mill, creating new wealth and new profit for stockholders. We can not help but believe that you are interested in such a splendid mining venture.”

The letter, addressed to a home on Chicago’s northwest side, is dated October 17, 1929 – just a few weeks before the stock market crash that would result in the Great Depression. As if that dramatic downtown wasn’t enough for investors of the Death Valley Exploration Company, the entire operation appears to be fraudulent. None of the toponyms described on the map can be confirmed elsewhere and sales of stock were prohibited in 1931. Check out the example at the PJ Mode Collection of Persuasive Maps at Cornell University for more information.