Description
A caption in the lower right margin explains that the “border design and decorations [are] from 17th century Louis Quinze tapestries and 18th century Robert de otte ornaments.” The border also includes a portrait of Napoleon. A small table lists “distinguished citizens born in Paris.” A tiny credit line in the lower left border above the publication information appears to read “A. Walker W.E. Vogelear.” Another example of this map is in the collection of the Newberry Library (see References below). Germany was then ruled by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi flag appears as the country’s emblem upper right.
Colortext Publications published educational books and pictorial maps in the second quarter of the 20th century. A series of “Story Maps” were published between 1935 and 1950, including maps of Europe, France, Ireland, Scotland, England, Mexico, the United States and the West Indies. Colortext also published maps of France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland during this period by the cartographer and illustrator Ernest Dudley Chase and a map of Kentucky for the H.E. Pogue Distillery. In addition to Chase, Colortext maps were drawn by Egbert G. Jacobson, Julio de Diego, A. Walker and W.E. Vogelear. Apparently these maps were intended to engage and educate American youth. In addition, the firm published illustrated booklets about history for children in connection with the Chicago World’s Fair Century of Progress Exhibition in 1933 and 1934, and maps of Chicago (1938) and a Military Panoramap of the Theatre of War (1940) showing the European theater of World War II.
Condition: Generally fine with only minor light toning, wear, soft creases.
References:
Clinton, Craig. “Colortext Maps of the 1930s.” Old Imprints. http://www.oldimprints.com/collecting-colortext-maps-of-the-1930s.php (22 June 2015).
“Colortext Publications.” OCLC WorldCat. http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au%3AColortext+Publications+Inc.&dblist=638&fq=ap%3A%22colortext+publications+inc%22&qt=facet_ap%3A (22 June 2015).
