1918 Montreal Star World War I Map of France and Belgium (Western Front)

This is a c. 1918 Montreal Star map of France and Belgium during World War I, known as the Western Front. Created for domestic consumption in Canada, the map highlights where Canadian troops distinguished themselves in battle. A line of battle sites from Ypres in western Belgium south to Coucy in France are highlighted. The most visually arresting aspect of the map is its border where insignia for forty different Canadian units appear. Illustrations of the highest military honors awarded to Canadian soldiers, including the Victoria Cross and the Distinguished Service Order, occupy the corners. Banners bearing the names of many of the Canadian Corps' most arduous battles separate the unit insignia on the left and right. An elaborate cartouche featuring an armorial crest and maple leaves occupies the center along the bottom border.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by the Montreal Star Publishing Company, Limited for the Montreal Daily Star and the Family Herald and Weekly Star. We note four examples cataloged in OCLC which are part of the collections at the Library and Archives Canada, McMaster University, the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, and the University of Toronto. This piece is scarce on the private market.