World Wonders A Pictorial Map

Celebrating the diverse grandeur of the globe.

This wonderful puzzle map is a stunning visual overview of the post-World War II world, a recognition of global unity, and a celebration of humanity and its diversity. The primary image was designed, drawn, and published by the talented Ernest Dudley Chase in 1954, who then licensed its use to Jaymay Speciality Company, Inc. of New York, a manufacturer of games and puzzles.

Vibrant colors outline national borders across a world shown on Mercator’s Projection. Dozens of small illustrations scattered throughout the image highlight flora and fauna, local cultures, historic sites, and more. Additional captioned vignettes along the top and bottom show further natural, ancient, and architectural wonders from around the globe. A border of flags representing the various participating countries of the United Nations comprises the border. One text box in the lower right neatly describes the map’s theme;

“The greatest Wonder of the World is the earth itself, a mere speck of matter in the immensity of space, yet here indeed are boundless oceans, vast continents, majestic mountain ranges, multifarious flora and fauna, superb manifestations of Nature, a wealth of minerals, and over all the glorious canopy of the sky. Finally, the result of a delicate adjustment of conditions, marvelous to contemplate, the miracle of human life itself, reaching sublime fulfillment in the flowering of genius and imagination, and their glorious attainments, the Sciences and Art.”