1957 Westermann Pictorial Wall Map of Antarctica and the South Pole

International Geophysical Year - bringing global attention to Antarctica.

This is a c. 1957 Westermann Verlag pictorial wall map of Antarctica. The map corresponds with the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957-1958, a global scientific collaboration that brought international attention to Antarctica.

A Closer Look

Coverage embraces Antarctica in full, making this one of the earliest large-scale maps of the continent issued for the general public. Many species of penguin, whales, and seals populate the continent. Icebergs fill the sea, while seabirds, including albatross and skuas, soar in the skies. Sailing ships spanning centuries of exploration ply the surrounding waters, including a vessel resembling those used by Sir Francis Drake or Jacob Le Maire when rounding Cape Horn. One of the others may be the Endurance, Ernest Shackleton's long-lost (and recently found!) vessel. International flags stake claims and chronicle Antarctic exploration, heralding the successes of Norway's Roald Amundsen, Britain's Robert Falcon Scott, and the U.S.'s Richard Byrd. French flags surround the French Dumont d'Urville Station, a scientific station in southeastern Antarctica. Established on January 12, 1956, the station remains in active use today and can accommodate up to 120 people during the summer and 30 during the winter months.

Antarctica in the Spotlight

International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957-1958, a global scientific collaboration involving more than 60 countries. For the first time, large-scale coordinated research was carried out across the continent, focusing on glaciology, meteorology, seismology, and geomagnetism. During this period, many of today's major research stations were established, including McMurdo Station (United States), Mirny Station (Soviet Union), and Halley Station (United Kingdom), laying the groundwork for a permanent scientific presence. Advances in aviation and mechanized transport allowed deeper penetration into the interior, including new surveys of the South Pole, which had not been revisited since Amundsen and Scott's expeditions decades earlier. The IGY also catalyzed unprecedented international cooperation in Antarctica, even amidst the Cold War, demonstrating a shared commitment to scientific progress beyond geopolitical rivalries. This collaboration helped set the stage for the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, which came into force in 1961, ensuring the continent would be dedicated to peaceful scientific use.

Publication History and Census

This map was published by Westermann Verlag c. 1957. This map is not cataloged in OCLC.

Cartographers

Westermann Verlag (Westermann Publishing) (1838 - Present) is a German publishing firm founded by Georg Westermann (February 23, 1810 - September 7, 1879) in Braunschweig. After Georg died, several generations of Westermann operated the business until the 'Westermann Druck-und Verlagsgruppe was acquired by the Medien-Union in 1986. They still published the Carl Diercke Schul-Atlas for use in schools and also have products that use or are related to Google Earth, globes, and 3-D technology   Further Details...

Georg (George) Westermann (February 23, 1810 - September 7, 1879) was a German publisher and the founder of Westermann Verlag, based in Braunschweig, which still exists to this day and publishes as part of the Westermann Group. Born in Leipzig, Westermann attended the Humanistic Gymnasium Albertina in Freiberg before moving to Brunswick to work as an apprentice to a book publisher and seller in 1827. He founded his own publishing bookstore in Braunschweig in 1838 and married Blanca Vieweg on November 29th of that year. Westermann expanded his operation in 1845 by acquiring his own printing works, which he later supplemented with a lithographic machine, steam-powered letterpresses, and a bookbindery. After Westermann died in 1879, his son Friedrich took over the business.   Further Details...

Condition

Very good. Some minor edge wear. Minor closed tear in upper right corner professionally repaired on verso. Attached to original rollers.