1983 James Grashow Limited Edition Map of the New York City Marathon

This is a 1983 James Grashow limited edition woodcut print created for the New York City Marathon. The marathon route, complete with runners, is highlighted in blue. Buildings and other landmarks appear in profile, including the Verrazano Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building (complete with King Kong), and the World Trade Center's Twin Towers. Central Park, where the marathon finishes, is prominent. The Statue of Liberty, of course, stands tall in New York Harbor as the State Island Ferry steams towards Battery Park. Spectators appear at various points along the route, but true to form, as important as the marathon is, life continues otherwise unabated. The whole is surrounded by a border composed of used running shoes.

Publication History and Census

This print was created by James Grashow for the 1983 New York City Marathon. There are two variants. The limited edition woodcut on hand-made paper, as here, was restricted to just 250 copies, of which this is no. 41. It was also issued in a mass market edition printed by offset. Today all examples are very rare, but the the limited edition woodcut variant is the most desirable and practically unobtainable.