Description
The map is intended as a version of a centuries-old Japanese board game called sugoroku, typically played around New Year’s by young people. In this version, the pieces would advance along an airplane flight path, landing on the photographs, which were to be identified by the player before moving on. Text in the upper left and right spandrels lists major highlights and achievements in aviation history and information about the longest flights on record through 1929. The lower informational texts are aimed at educating the young players. Flight routes are marked in solid and dashed red lines of varying thicknesses, corresponding to a key in the lower right spandrel. In keeping with its theme, tiny photographs of airplanes and zeppelins decorate the oceans and the corners of each spandrel are small propeller shapes in gray.
The Osaka Mainichi Shimbun daily newspaper was founded in 1876. It merged with the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun in 1911, but continued to publish independently until 1943, when both editions were placed under the Mainichi Shimbun masthead. The company still publishes one of Japan’s three largest newspapers, in addition to having broadcast and online operations.
Condition: Generally very good, formerly folded, as issued. Now professionally cleaned, flattened, deacidified, and backed with Japanese tissue, thus repairing some minor marginal tears and chips, as well as separations and minor losses at folds and intersections, but still with some remaining light toning, wear, handling.
References:
“Mainichi Shimbun.” Wikipedia. 26 December 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainichi_Shimbun (13 February 2014).
Marcus, Marvin. E-mail correspondence. 10 February 2014.
“Sugoroku.” Wikipedia. 21 June 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugoroku (13 February 2014).
