1940 Chocolates Orthi Trading Card Pictorial Map of North America (complete)

A highly unusual c. 1940 pictorial map of North America issued by Chocolates Orthi, Piera Y Brugueras of Tarragona, Spain. This beautiful pictorial map is composed of 50 unusually shaped trading cards that were issued inside boxes of Spanish chocolates. The cards combine to create a large map of North America measuring approximately 18 x 25 inches. The map covers the entire continent from the high Arctic to Panama and from Alaska to Greenland. The map is peppered with pictorial illustrations of indigenous Native Americans as well as regional fauna. The mapmaker appears to have been largely unfamiliar with North America, placing alligators in the Great Lakes, bison north of the Hudson Bay, and anacondas in Mexico. A smaller sub map details the North Pole with a polar bear at center. Another small map just above illustrates the breakdown of cards. The map is features an elaborate graphic surround with flag of various North American and Central American nations and the Chocolates Orthi, Piera Y Brugueras banner.

The date of this map is unclear. Chocolates Orthi, Piera Y Brugueras began issuing cartographic cromos instructivos recortables around 1933. They produced maps of Spain, Europe, North and South America, and North America. The Europe map is the only map that bears a date, 1933, and stylistically appears primitive, possibly suggesting an earlier example. The flags are generally out of date. The flag of Costa Rica represented was not used after 1906, the El Salvador flag represented was not used after 1912, the Nicaragua flag 1898, and the Canada flag, 1907. We have approximate the date to 1940, which is consistent with the publishing history of Litografía B. Baño as well as the printing style.

The cards were printed by Litografía B. Baño of Barcelona, Spain.