1976 Mondadori Disney Map of the World in Italian

This is a 1976 Mondadori Editore Italian-language map of the world featuring a parade of Disney characters along the bottom. It is part of 'Disney's World of English' program, a now-defunct initiative to expand the brand through educational centers into non-English speaking markets.

A Closer Look

The map depicts the world using the Robinson projection. Countries as of 1976 are labeled, including several that no longer exist, including the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and East and West Germany. The map includes submarine topography, with island chains in the Pacific Ocean (such as Hawaii) presented as mountains rising from the ocean floor. A key in the upper-right corner explains the notations used. Smaller maps in the lower left and right corners illustrate the North Pole and the South Pole on Polar projections. A parade of Disney characters, led by Mickey Mouse and Jiminy Cricket, decorates the lower margin.

Disney's World of English

Disney's World of English was a program created by the Walt Disney Company with the idea that, by funding programs to help children worldwide learn English using Disney characters, Disney was creating lifelong fans. Disney's World of English has left a very small digital footprint, making it very difficult to trace. We do know that Disney operated World of English learning centers in China from 2008 to 2020, when it closed all its locations due to COVID-19.

Publication History and Census

This map was published by Arnoldo Mondadori in 1976 using a base map created by Rand McNally. Mondadori had been publishing Disney products in Italy since 1935, when the company's founder, Arnoldo Mondadori, reached an agreement with Walt Disney. Mondadori published Disney products until 1988, when the rights were transferred to the Walt Disney Company Italy. This is the only known cataloged example of the present map.