1942 Ernest Dudley Chase Map of the World During World War II

Signed Example of Chase's popular World War II World Map.

This is a 1942 Ernest Dudley Chase pictorial map of the world during World War II (1939 - 1945). It is one of a series of maps Chase produced to illustrate the war as it developed.

A Closer Look

The map depicts the world with political boundaries predating the war. Germany's conquests in Europe and Japan's territorial gains in the Pacific are not reflected. Even the Demarcation Line in France does not appear. Approximate distances between New York and points worldwide, such as Sydney, Melbourne, Manila, and Bombay) are provided. Symbols mark global naval bases and possessions of the British, Americans, Japanese, French, and Dutch. Illustrations of submarines, battleships, and even an ocean liner fill the seas while American fighter and bomber aircraft patrol the skies. Vignettes appear along the top and bottom borders and illustrate a tank, artillery pieces, a B-17 Flying Fortress, and anti-aircraft gun mounts aboard a Navy ship. Morse Code for the letter 'V' (for 'Victory') of three dots and a dash create the border.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by Ernest Dudley Chase in 1942. The present example is signed in the lower left corner. We note cataloged examples as being part of the collections at the American Antiquarian Society, the Newberry Library, the University of Texas at Arlington, and the David Rumsey Map Collection.

Cartographer

Ernest Dudley Chase (July 26, 1878 - August 25, 1966) was an American illustrator of greeting cards and pictorial maps active in the first half of the 20th century. From his studio in Winchester, Massachusetts, Chase became famous for his elaborately illustrated pictorial maps. He was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, and attended the Lowell Textile School and the Vesper George Art School. He took work with Butterfield Printing Company in 1900. In 1906, he moved to the W. T. Sheehan Printing Firm. He began producing postcards and greeting cards on his own account in 1908. This initial imprint was Des Arts Publishers, but later, he changed it to Ernest Dudley Chase Publishers. Chase is best known today for his distinctive pictorial maps, most of which he published privately, characterized by dense vignette images of important locations. The biographical pamphlet A Meticulous Maker of Maps describes Chase's attention to detail wherein, pursuing a 'passion for perfection' by stippling his images 'dot-by-dot, with tiny pens' under a magnifying glass. His impressive corpus includes nearly 50 maps focusing on various parts of the United States and Europe, as well as other international locations and novelty pieces. Most are thematic, focusing on topics such as wonders of the world, stamps, aviation, and war. Others, such as his map of The United States as viewed by California and Loveland are satirical. All, in their original editions, are coveted by a dedicated following of modern collectors.   Further Details...

Condition

Very good. Light toning. Closed edge tears professionally repaired on verso. Upper right corner reinstated.

References

OCLC 914432212, 914432212. Rumsey 8531.000.