1930 Harold Gray Little Orphan Annie Christmas Card Map of the United States

This is a c. 1930 Harold Gray Little Orphan Annie Christmas card map of the United States.

A Closer Look

The map highlights roads across the United States, southern Canada, and in Mexico south to Acapulco, suggesting that Annie and her dog Sandy have traveled thousands of miles over the years. Annie tells the recipient, 'If our paths haven't crossed, folks, don't think it's 'cause we haven't been tryin' for years an' years! Eh, Sandy?' To which Sandy replies with a simple 'Arf!' The front of the card features an illustration of Annie and Sandy in a stylish yellow car with a backseat full of luggage. Annie waves at the recipient and the card bears the greeting, 'Wherever You Are, from Wherever We May Be, We Wish You the Merriest of Christmases and the Happiest of New Years!'

Little Orphan Annie

Little Orphan Annie is a comic strip that was created by Harold Gray. The strip first appeared on August 5, 1924, and it gained popularity over the years, becoming one of the most widely read comic strips in the United States. The character of Little Orphan Annie, with her trademark curly red hair and optimistic outlook, became an iconic figure in American popular culture. The popularity of Little Orphan Annie continued for decades, and the strip was adapted into various forms of media, including radio shows, films, and a Broadway musical titled Annie. The comic strip ran for many years, finally concluding on June 13, 2010. Overall, Little Orphan Annie's fame spanned from the 1920s through the 20th century, leaving a lasting impact on American comic strip history.

Publication History and Census

This map was created by Harold Gray as part of a Christmas card c. 1930. We have found other Little Orphan Annie Christmas cards, but this is the only digitized example we have seen of the present card.