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Details 1961 Courtland Smith Pictorial Map of Long Island, New York
1961 (dated) $750.00

1933 1st Edition Courtland Smith Pictorial Map of Long Island, New York

LongIsland-smith-1933-5
$475.00
A Map of Long Island. - Main View
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1933 1st Edition Courtland Smith Pictorial Map of Long Island, New York

LongIsland-smith-1933-5

First edition of an iconic pictorial map.

Title


A Map of Long Island.
  1933 (dated)     20 x 27 in (50.8 x 68.58 cm)     1 : 337920

Description


This is a charming 1933 first edition pictorial map of Long Island by Courtland Smith. This historical map covers from New London in Connecticut and Fishers Island south as far as the Lower New York Bay and Staten Island. Long Island is depicted in its entirety from Brooklyn and Queens east to Montauk. Throughout, the map notes cities, towns, beaches, radio stations, parks, ferry lines, lighthouses and several other important landmarks, scenes, and activities. Several landmarks have been attractively illustrated, including the Montauk Point Light, Fire Island Light, Southampton, Coney Island, etc. Gardiner's Island - 'here Capt. Kidd buried loot' and Oyster Park - 'Burial Place of Theodore Roosevelt' are noted. When Smith died, the mayor of Southampton remarked about this map:
That map has had a significant impact on the development of not only Southampton, but all the other towns on Long Island that it features.
On the map…
The top left quadrant of the map includes the note, 'The backbone of L.I. was formed by debris brought from the New England Mountains by two glaciers about forty thousand years ago' as well as an inset featuring a 'Diagram showing how far the two Stages of Ice Advance covered L.I.' Five views along the top border include the Birthplace of John Howard Payne East Hampton, a Typical Windmill, Jones Beach, Coast Guard, and Old Manor House. A decorative compass rose and an art deco wind figure are also featured. In Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean, pictorial illustrations of ships, striped bass, a swordfish, whale fishing, and the Sag Harbor Whalers that 'sailed to the ends of the Earth' can be seen. The map is surrounded by an elaborate border, with underwater scenes at the top and historic events and places along the remaining three sides, including the '13 Tribes of Indians when First Settlers Arrived,' 'First Settled at Brooklyn in 1614,' 'First Rail Road 1836,' 'Brooklyn Bridge 1867-1883,' etc.
A Popular Map
Courtland Smith, an architect by profession, drew this map during the years of the Great Depression as a 'keep-busy project' on the suggestion of his friend Richard Foster, who is credited for compiling the data for this map. It quickly became extremely popular and according to Courtland Smith's obituary in the Southampton Press, it became the 'steady seller in gift shops throughout Long Island for more than 75 years.'
Publication History and Census
This map was drawn by Courtland Smith from data compiled by Richard Foster and published by The Billboard Barn, Southampton, L.I. It was printed by Gerson Offset Litho Co., Inc., New York. This map became extremely popular and has since been widely reprinted, with a second official edition appearing in 1961, and numerous subsequent copies. The present example is the original 1933 edition - which is increasingly rare. There are two variants of the first edition, one printed by George C. Miller, and the other, as here, printed by Gerson. There are also two colors schemes, which were issued simultaneously, the 'yellow and orange' as here, and the 'blue', which offers more muted tones. It is also of note that most examples were varnished over to give the piece an 'antique' look, especially those of the first edition - unfortunately, the varnish and subsequent backing on cardboard or wood, often caused extreme damage. So while later editions of the map are not uncommon, examples of any edition good condition are extremely scarce.

CartographerS


Courtland Elmer Smith (December 3, 1907 - March 4, 2005) was an American architect, illustrator, and designer. He was born in Southampton, New York, the son of Elmer Smith, then village mayor. Smith studied at the University of Pennsylvania, attaining a degree in architecture in 1929, just in time for Black Tuesday. Smith worked on and off during Great Depression. In 1933, he worked with friend Richard 'Dick' Foster to compile a pictorial map of Long Island. As the Great Depression eased, Smith got more and more architecture work, becoming known for a clean uncluttered style. His work took him all over the world, and includes Houston Astrodome, the Distant Early Warning (DEW Line) radar defense system in the Arctic, and foreign aid projects for the U.S. Agency for International Development. After living abroad for many years, he returned to his native Southampton in 1966. He remained there in his family home until his death in 2005. (The Southampton Press, March 10, 2005) More by this mapmaker...


Albert Gerson (January 23, 1903 - March 9, 1977) was a Jewish Russian-American lithographic job printer and inventor based in New York in the mid-20th century. The place of his birth is something of a mystery. Documents predating 1930, list his birthplace as Russia. After 1930, including on his 1942 World War II draft card, his birthplace is listed as Brooklyn. During the 1920s he worked as a millinery salesman, but by 1930, he established his own printing concern, Gerson Offset Lithography. In 1960, Gerson invented the Gerson Multiplater - a labor saving machine for making photo-offset lithograph plates. In 1924, he married Cecelia Schwehel (1924 - 1972). Learn More...

Condition


Very good. Slight edge wear.

References


Rumsey 8631.000.