Vintage pictorial map of the contiguous United States featuring hundreds of miniature vignettes of historic buildings, iconic landmarks, and natural wonders.



Patriotic elements abound on this map, including a bald eagle bearing aloft a row of thirteen stars above the title cartouche. Five circular vignettes representing places of particular historical significance are placed around the map's border. These include the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross's house, Mount Vernon, the White House, and the Old State House.



Major towns and cities across America are represented by illustrations of buildings or of the dominant industries of the region, for example oil-drilling near Dallas and grape-growing in northern California.



Laid down on archival linen. Signed by the author in pencil. Printed colour. (SL) [USA8978]



Ernest Dudley Chase



Ernest Dudley Chase (1878-1966), born in Lowell, Massachusetts, is one of the best known and prolific pictorial mapmakers of the 20th century. He created more than 50 different maps in his very distinctive style. A perfectionist, he is noted for his attention to fine details and for his illustrated vignettes. The maps frequently dealt humorously with serious subjects while always reflecting his passionate patriotism and optimism.



Many of his maps focus on his native New England, but he also designed maps of the world, Europe, North and South America, and WWII-themed maps. He published all of his maps from his home in Winchester, Massachusetts, taking orders from customers through the post. In a delightfully personal touch, he would sometimes sign his maps in pencil before dispatching them to customers.