1960 Faller Pictorial Map of Germany as Fairytale Land

This is a c. 1960 reissue of the 1937 Leo Faller pictorial map of Germany illustrating and geographically contextualizing a rich tapestry of fairy tales.

A Map Full of Fairytales

The map depicts Germany from the Netherlands, Belgium, and France to Berlin and the Czech Republic and from Denmark to Austria. By far the most renowned publishers of German fairy tales are Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm, better known as the Grimm brothers. These brothers published several editions of their renowned collection of tales. The first, published in 1812, contained 86 stories, but by the seventh edition, which was published in 1857, they had compiled 211 fairy tales. The stories were part of German oral tradition. Several well-known fairy tales are illustrated here, including Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Snow White, and the Pied Piper.

Not Without Some Important Map Qualities

The map itself is detailed, with cities and towns labeled throughout and highways snaking their way across the country. Yellow banners mark each fairy tale.

Publication History and Census

Though undated, the map features an inset map entitled 'German frontiers as of 1937'. However, the labels 'Soviet Zone' and 'Democratic Republic' place it firmly in the second half of the 20th century, during the Cold War. This map was created by Leo Faller for the Deutsche Reichsbahn (German State Railway) and then it was reissued by the Deutsche Bundesbahn and reprinted by Karl Wenschow in Munich c. 1960. An example of this edition is part of the David Rumsey Map Collection.