1934 Edward Camy Pictorial Map of Alaska

A delightful 1934 first edition pictorial map of Alaska drawn by Edward Camy to promote 'The Alaska Line'. Drawn 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 is traced as it weaves around the islands near Sitka on its way to Valdez and Kodiak. Other routes go directly to Nome or island hop through the Aleutians. An inset map in the upper right quadrant offers travelers the option to disembark in Cordova and set out on 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'.

Census and Publication History

This map was created by Edward Camy and published by the Alaska Steamship Company in 1934 and 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.