Vintage ephemeral map of the World issued as a promotional item by spice and extract manufacturers, McCormick & Company.

An attractive double hemisphere map, showing political divisions, time zones and with charming illustrations of ships, windheads and sea monsters – a nod to the aesthetic more commonly seen on antique maps from the 17th and 18th centuries. Across the map in red overprint, the names of commodities (spices, herbs and extracts) that originate from those countries.

The routes of explorers such as Ibn Batuta (1325-49), Vasco de Gama, (1497), John Cabot (1498), Ferdinand Magellan (1520), Sir Francis Drake (1580) and more are traced across the map. Additionally, the ancient trading routes of the Arabians and the Manilla Galleon are listed.

The map is surrounded by a border of international flags accompanied with population sizes, and vignettes depicting cultivation of extracts and spices, and some important historical dates and figures in exploration, and a visualisation of three of the company’s premises.

On the reverse of the map, which was originally folded into a pamphlet, there is an overview of some of the products sold by McCormick & Company including tea and coffee and seasonings such as black pepper, barbeque, vanilla, almost, cinnamon sugar and garlic salt. There is also an “encyclopaedia” of flavouring extracts (herbs, botanicals, spices), listing the extract, where it comes from, how it is used and how it is processed.

Printed colour. (SL)