Published by The Alaska Line, Alaska Steamship Co., Farwest Lithograph & Printing Co., [1934]., Seattle, WA:, 1934
Seller: Zephyr Used & Rare Books, Vancouver, WA, U.S.A.
First Edition
One large oblong atlas folio pictorial map sized 29.5 x 22 in., beautiful original lithograph cover, very minor dustsoiling, and slight creasing to fore-edges, a NF copy. First edition of this splendid pictorial map featuring pictograph cartoons reminiscent of John Held's Jazz Age artwork, as well as Ruth Taylor White, and her sister Della Taylor Hoss. The Alaska Line which had benefited from a near monopoly of passenger and freight service to Alaska after the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 brags about their accommodations, service, easy access and tours to many scenic areas in and around "America's last frontier." Later printings have an altered colour scheme from this one featuring Alaska in gold, and the Yukon and British Columbia, Canada in pink. Camy (1904-1958) was a California artist, and illustrator who specialized in commercial graphic advertising for Dole Pineapple, Signal Gasoline, and the Alaska Line. He produced very few pictographic maps.
Publication Date: 1934
Seller: Geographicus Rare Antique Maps, Brooklyn, NY, U.S.A.
Map First Edition
1st Edition. Very good. Mounted poster style on linen. Size 21.25 x 28.5 Inches. A delightful 1934 first edition pictorial map of Alaska drawn by Edward Camy to promote 'The Alaska Line . Prepared in the style of Jo Mora, Camy's map covers most of Alaska and parts of the Yukon and British Columbia as far south as Seattle. For a place that is shrouded in twilight for several months a year, this map is remarkably bright and sunny no doubt an attempt by the Alaska Line to offset the image of Alaska as cold and dreary. Cartoonish vignette illustrations elaborate on Alaska's flora, fauna, culture, scenery, mineral wealth, and the activities that can be enjoyed there. The route of the steamship line along as it weaves around the Islands near Sitka on its way to Valdez and Kodiak is noted. Other routes go directly to Nome or island hop on the Aleutians. An inset map in the upper right offers the option to disembark in Cordova for an inland tour to Fairbanks, visiting Mount McKinley and Anchorage before re-embarking at Seward. A cartoon strip along the bottom of the map follows the adventures of two travelers as they dine, dance, sleep, and play their way up the coast. A whale in the lower left is advertised as a 'portable geyser'. Publication History This map first appeared in 1934 in the present edition. It was subsequently reissued several times with minor changes. An issue in 1939 features a slightly different color scheme, and a 1940 edition appears as a folding pamphlet with printing on both sides. References: Rumsey 8843.000. OCLC 21111704.