1943 Mercier Pictorial Map of the North Pole during World War II

This is a 1943 Jacques Mercier pictorial map of the North Pole, published in Lyon during World War II (1939 - 1945). The map posits a future where aviators could travel via the North Pole between Asia and North America. Though this is the shortest route between the continents, it was a technological impossibility at the time of publication.

A Closer Look

The map depicts the northern portion of the Earth with the North Pole at center. Labrador, Canada, and Alaska appear along the top border, Greenland is just to the left of center, and Europe and Asia circle the bottom and right sides. Red arrows highlight the air routes discussed along the right border, while blue arrows illustrate the Northeast Passage and the Murmansk route. Although not feasible when this map was published, these air routes are today known as Great Circle Routes and are routine air-routes between Asia and America. Twenty-three locations are marked numerically and correspond with an index along the left side. These mark historical events, cultural aspects of life in the northern extremes of the Earth, and the current military uses for the Arctic. Illustrations of seals, whales, polar bears (one of whom is attacking an explorer near number 12), and other northern wildlife add character.

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn by Jacques Mercier and published in the January 10, 1943, edition of 7 Jours. We note only a handful of instances when the separate map has appeared on the private market. An example is part of the David Rumsey Collection but is cataloged as being published in 1939 instead of 1943.