1967 Johns Manuscript Pictorial Map of New England
[New England].
Whimsical Tour of New England, in a manuscript proof.
Whimsical Tour of New England, in a manuscript proof.
This is a 1967 John A. Johns original manuscript art for a pictorial game map of New England. This game was intended for publication by the Pittsburgh Press, but may never have been printed, as we can find no other record of it.A Closer Look
The map covers from the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the north to New York City in the south. Cities, towns, and major attractions such as historical sites, mountains, and scenic lakes are labeled throughout, often with representative illustrations, such as a lobster for Portland, Maine, a witch for Salem, Massachusetts, and a cannon and rifles at Concord, Massachusetts. A dotted path leads along the coast from New York City to Cape Cod, up to Portland, then inland to the White Mountains, moving through New Hampshire and Vermont to Springfield, Massachusetts, then south to Hartford and finally back to New York City. The numbers along the path refer to highways and major roads, including interstates, U.S. routes, and state routes.Publication History and Census
The faint stamp at bottom suggests that the work was intended to appear in print in the June 11, 1967 edition of the Pittsburgh Press, Johns' longtime employer, but it in fact did not appear in that edition and seems to have never been published.Cartographer
John Abraham Johns (October 24, 1921 - December 31, 2005) was a caricaturist and illustrator who worked for various publications in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Johns was born in Pittsburgh and attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, graduating in 1939. During the Second World War, he was a B-25 bomber pilot in the China-Burma-India Theater. After the war, he worked as a commercial artist for an advertising agency in Charleston, West Virginia before returning to Pittsburgh, where he became the editorial cartoonist for The Pittsburgh Press from 1952 to 1969. He also designed covers for the weekly magazine TV Graphic and several other publications. From 1969 to 1974, Johns also appeared on local public television, drawing caricatures live relating to news stories and celebrities of the day. In March 1970, his work appeared in Mad magazine, giving him some national exposure beyond the Pittsburgh region. From 1970 to 1982, Johns was the President of his alma mater, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. During that time and after, he was an advocate for training caricaturist at his alma mater and other art institutes throughout the country. Further Details...
Condition
Good. Original manuscript artwork on crescent art board. Edge wear. Warping to board.