1939 Colortext Pictorial Story Map of the United States
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Story Map of the United States of America.
Snapshot of American culture, history, and industry.
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Snapshot of American culture, history, and industry.
This is a 1939 Colortext first edition story map of the United States. Depicting the continental U.S., this colorful map combines elements of American culture, landscape, and industrial production. Dramatic representations of the Rocky Mountains, the Ozarks, the Sierra Nevadas, and the Appalachians illustrate the geographical diversity of the nation, particularly when compared with the broad plains of the Midwest. Icons mark famous sites, promote American industry and agriculture, and highlight historical figures and events. The sharp-eyed can find portraits of George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, and Buffalo Bill among views of the U.S. Capitol, Hoover Dam (labeled Roosevelt Dam), and Independence Hall. Illustrations of grain elevators, oil derricks, and blimps are juxtaposed with views of sites like Mesa Verde, Old Faithful, and The Alamo. The whole is surrounded by a pictorial border focused on the the original thirteen colonies.Publication History and Census
This map was created by Colortext Publications and published in 1939. A single example of the 1939 edition is cataloged in OCLC and is part of the collection at Pennsylvania State University. A second edition was published in 1943.Cartographer
Colortext Publications (c. 1933 – 1950) was a Chicago based firm active in the middle part of the 20th century. The firm's earliest work is a series of pamphlets associated with the Chicago Century of Progress International Exposition (1933 - 1934). Following the exposition Colortext partnered with various artist to create a series of pictorial maps known as 'Story Maps.' The firm partnered with such notable pictorial map artists as Ernest Dudley Chase, Egbert G. Jacobson, Julio de Diego, A. Walker, and W.E. Vogelear. Although it is unclear who founded the firm, it is registered business at 8 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, as early as 1933. In 1938 and 1940, the firm produced to exceptional publications, a panoramic view of Chicago and the Military Panoramap of the Theatre of War. These depart markedly from the 'Story Map' model and reveal a greater level of sophistication than evident in Colortext's earlier publications. Sometime after World War II Colortext was acquired by the Chicago businessman and druggist Paul J. Mandalbach. The firm's last publication was in 1950, a Story Map of the West Indies. Further Details...
Condition
Good. Exhibits wear and soiling to left quarter of map - extending into margin (see image). Closed margin tears professionally repaired on verso. Blank on verso.
References
OCLC 492225247.