The Good-Natured Map of Alaska showing the services offered by "The Alaska Line"; and suggesting some of the most interesting features of the Territory
Seattle: Alaska Steamship Co. [Farwest Lithograph and Print Co.], 1939. Very Good. Second Edition. Camy, Edward. [22x29.25in sheet, 21x28in neatline]; Color pictorial map of Alaska and Yukon with humorous advertising featuring the Alaska Steamship company routes, includes connections to the Alaska Railroad and highway systems, large inset of the Seward-Fairbanks-Cordova loop, nine cartoon illustrations of activities aboard the steamship in the inside passage from Seattle to Skagway; Bright and vibrant colors with several old repaired closed tears along the edges from 2 to 3 inches at the old crease lines, along the left edge a small chip and some bleed through of red ink from handwritten "Alaska" on verso, minor age toning along the edges. [Rumsey 9937.000] CS. Item #14001
Edward Camy (1904-1958) was an American graphic artist and illustrator in San Francisco. His most noted works were for the Alsaka Steamship line, Santa Fe Railroad and other advertisements in the 1930's and 40's. He also worked on a larger scale of billboards and other travel related advertising and maps. He is noted for his colorful cartoon syle and whimsical captions, as noted in this map.
The map was first issued in 1934 with a different coloring from this 1939 map. The 1940 editon, was similar, except for the steamship route to Dutch Harbor, Unalaska likely due to the growing threat of war with Japan and extensive construction of Navy and Army military installations (Dutch Harbor was attacked by the Japanese in 1942).
This map was from the library of Dr. G. Warren Smith (1941-2021) of Pennsylvania. He had a long career as university professor and administrator, and was a collector of over 6,000 books, maps, illustrations, and artifacts relating to the Arctic, Alaska and Pacific Northwest.
Price: $290.00