1946 Covarrubias Pictorial Tourist Map of Florida

Covarrubias!

A striking 1946 Miguel Covarrubias pictorial tourist map of Florida that highlights the state's many wonders. Perhaps the text on the map says it best:

This road map, painted especially for LIFE by Miguel Covarrubias, takes the tourist along the main highways through the garish and exciting wonderland of the state of Florida.

Close study will reveal many of Florida's sports, industries, history, and tourist attractions: the ghost of Ponce de Leon drinking water from the Fountain of Youth; the pirate flag flying over Pirate's Cove on the Keys; the strange fish of Marineland; the racing automobiles at Daytona Beach; the snake milked of its venom for serum; the swamps and trees of the Everglades; the alligators; the hunting; the circus winter quarters at Sarasota; the Seminole Indians; the fishing and swimming; the cigar, sponge, citrus-fruit, turpentine, watermelon and strawberry industries. There are 105 Florida items, places and products on the map.

The whole has been prepared Covarrubias's unique colorful style.

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn by Miguel Covarrubias and published in LIFE Magazine in 1946. We have located two examples in institutional collections. One is part of the Touchton Map Library at the Tampa Bay History Center, and the other is part of the David Rumsey Map Collection. This piece is not cataloged in OCLC.

Cartographer

Miguel Covarrubias (November 22, 1904 - February 4, 1957) (also known as José Miguel Covarrubias Duclaud) was a Mexican illustrator, caricaturist, painter, ethnologist, and art historian. Born in Mexico City, Covarrubias began producing illustrations and caricatures for materials published by the Mexican Ministries of Education and Communication after graduating from the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria in 1918. At just 19, although he spoke little English, the talented artist grant from the Mexican government to study in New York City. Covarrubias was introduced around New York City art circles by the Mexican poet José Juan Tablada and the New York Times critic Carl Van Vechten. His mastery attained instant recognition and he was soon booked to produce art for many of Manhattan's top magazines. Eventually, Covarrubias become a prominent illustrator and the premier caricaturist for Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. Covarrubias also worked on set designs, and painted murals, one of which was commissioned by the 1939-1940 Golden Gate International Exposition. He married Rosa Rolando in 1930.   Further Details...

Source

LIFE Magazine, 1946.    

Condition

Very good. Minor wear along original fold lines.

References

Tampa Bay History Center, Touchton Map Library, L2016.060.008. Rumsey 11491.000.