1959 Logan and Pike Map of Sunken Treasure in the Caribbean and West Indies (Signed)

Legend Meets Latitude - the myths and facts of sunken treasure.

A wonderful, richly-toned 1959 Jay Scott Pike and Fred Logan pictorial map of Florida, the Caribbean, and the West Indies, celebrating sunken treasure, pirate history, and underwater exploration. In general, although replete with stereotypical swashbuckling pirate imagery, the map challenges the romanticism of piracy and seeks to bridge the gap between fantasy and historical fact. The map is signed and dedicated to 'George and Jane' by both authors. Jay Scott Pike was a well-known and influential pulp comic artist known for his mastery of the female form. Fred Logan was a renowned underwater cinematographer and archeologist.

A Closer Look

Coverage embraces from Mexico to Hispaniola and from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to South America. Vignette illustrations throughout highlight aspects of pirate life, historical events, indigenous peoples and artifacts, and more. Above the map, dramatic images illustrate both the fantasy and fiction of hunting and discovering sunken treasure. Content to the left and right details pirate history, with a focus on replacing myth with historical fact. Along the bottom, there are illustrations of actual recovered treasure, along with commentary on its commercial value in 1959. The map's rich textual content, including locating 24 known wrecks, addresses both the fantasy of pirate treasure and the reality of discovering, excavating, and profiting from sunken wrecks.

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn and published by Fred W. Logan and Jay Scott Pike, both of whom have signed and dedicated it in the lower left. The map is scarce, with just six examples cited in OCLC: Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Library of Congress, Florida State, and the University of California, Los Angeles. No market history.

Cartographers

Jay Scott Pike (September 6, 1924 - September 13, 2015) was an American comic book artist and commercial illustrator celebrated for his stylish mid-century work with Marvel (then Atlas) and DC Comics, as well as for his mastery of 'good girl' art in both comics and advertising. Born in Philadelphia, Pike studied at the Art Students League and later at Parsons, Syracuse, and the Ringling School of Art after serving in the U.S. Marines during World War II (1939 - 1945). Breaking into comics in the early 1950s through Atlas Comics, he became a prolific artist across genres - romance, Westerns, crime, horror, and adventure - and co-created Jann of the Jungle (1954). His sleek, expressive figures helped define the look of 1950s romance and jungle comics, though he often ran afoul of the Comics Code Authority's censorship. Pike joined DC Comics in the 1960s, illustrating romance titles such as Heart Throbs and Girls' Romances, and in 1968 created the enduring underwater heroine Dolphin. Beyond comics, he built a successful career as a commercial illustrator, producing pinups, magazine covers, and advertising art for major clients like Ford, Pepsi, and General Mills. Known for his striking, polished style and command of the female form, Pike returned briefly to comics in the 1990s for DC's Scarlett and Star Trek: The Next Generation before retiring. His career bridged the golden age of pulp illustration and the modern comic era. He is known for a single map, a 1959 pictorial map of sunken treasure in Florida, the West Indies, and the Caribbean published in partnership with Fred W. Logan (1925 - 2010).   Further Details...

Fred Whiting Logan (February 1, 1925 - November 29, 2010) was an American underwater photographer, archaeologist, treasure hunter, and cinematographer. Fred was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and studied at Williams College before joining the Air Force to fight in World War II (1939 - 1945). In 1951, he relocated to Sarasota, Florida, where he lived for the rest of his life. Logan is known for pioneering work as an underwater photographer, directing underwater 16mm footage for the CBS program Odyssey. He also led underwater exploration times for Smithsonian excavations and Port Royale, Jamaica, and other sites throughout the Caribbean. He participated in the discovery and excavation of the Spanish treasure ship Capitana, El Rubi Seguno (1733) discovered near Plantation Key. He is known for a single map, a 1959 pictorial map of sunken treasure in Florida, the West Indies, and the Caribbean published in partnership with Jay Scott Pike (1924 - 2015).   Further Details...

Condition

Excellent.

References

OCLC 494593321.