Smith, Karl (sold)
Karl J. Smith (August 28, 1895 - August 7, 1986) was an American cartographer and illustrator best known for his pictorial maps. Smith was born in Louisville, Kentucky. His first job was at Louisville Paper Company - where he apparently fell into a barrel of ink. He served in World War I (1914 - 1918). His earliest work dates to about 1934, when he was commissioned by the Speed Art Museum of Louisville, Kentucky to make pictorial maps of the states. It is unclear if he completed this project, but known maps include Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida, and California. There are likely others. Around 1950, he relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina, where he worked as advertising director for the Dillard Paper Company. Later, in the late 1950s, he issued a series of historical maps of the United States for Linweave Paper Company. Smith's style resembles that of Ernest Dudley Chase but is more playful and humorous. In addition to cartographic work, he was also considered an expert on heraldic painting. He was also an amateur historian and well-known expert on Benjamin Franklin. Smith died in Louisville, Kentucky, at 90.
Celebrating Kentucky.
An Historical and Geographical Map of the State of Kentucky 'The Dark and Bloody Ground'.
sold
- Digital Map Information
- Suitable for large format printing
- File Size: 36.18 MB
- File Type: ZIP / TIFF
- ICC color profile embedded
- Delivered instantly via download link
This is Karl Smith's 1933 Depression Era pictorial map of Kentucky. Issued at the height the Great Depression, the map offers a much needed boost to state and national morale. (more details)
Scarce pictorial Florida.
Florida.
sold
- Digital Map Information
- Suitable for large format printing
- File Size: 20.66 MB
- File Type: ZIP / TIFF
- ICC color profile embedded
- Delivered instantly via download link
A fine example of Karl Smith's striking 1953 pictorial map of Florida. The map focuses on peninsular Florida, with the western panhandle illustrated via inset. Throughout, vignette illustrations depict life in Florida, from citrus harvesting to fishing and ranching. Florida's rich flora and fauna are also incorporated. West of Tampa, 'Gasparilla', ship of the notorious but apocryphal Spanish pirate José Gaspar, lies in wait. Other features including the '5 Flags over Florida' compass rose, a banner illustrating the historic buildings of St. Augustine, and a palm tree themed title cartouche. (more details)