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1932 General Drafting Company Pictorial Map of the Life of George Washington

EventsLifeWashington-generaldrafting-1932
$112.50
Principal Events in the life of George Washington in this States that lie between the Hudson and Savannah. - Main View
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1932 General Drafting Company Pictorial Map of the Life of George Washington

EventsLifeWashington-generaldrafting-1932

A charming pictorial map tracing the life of George Washington from the French and Indian War through his years as President of the United States.

Title


Principal Events in the life of George Washington in this States that lie between the Hudson and Savannah.
  1932 (undated)     26 x 17.5 in (66.04 x 44.45 cm)     1 : 1500000

Description


This is a c. 1932 General Drafting Company pictorial map of principal events and important sites in the life of George Washington, the First President of the United States and the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Armies during the American Revolutionary War. The map depicts the eastern portion of the United States from Lake Erie, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia to the Atlantic Ocean and from New York State and Massachusetts to Georgia and the Atlantic Ocean. Vignettes throughout the map illustrate places where George Washington stayed, maintained his headquarters, or entertained guests, highlight locations of major battles in his military career, and present images of renowned events, such as the crossing of the Delaware River in 1776, receiving the surrender of General Cornwallis in 1781, and his inauguration in New York in 1789. Routes followed by Washington during his military career during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution are traced here, as well as the route he followed during his Southern Tour while serving as President in 1791. A decorative title cartouche is situated in the lower right corner and features several flags related to Washington's life.

This map was produced by the General Drafting Company and distributed by Standard Oil to its customers c. 1932

Cartographer


General Drafting Corporation (1909 - 1992) was one of the 'Big Three' publishers of road maps between 1930 and 1970, along with H. M. Gousha and Rand McNally. Founded in 1909, Otto G. Lindberg, an immigrant from Finland and the company's founder, began his business with a borrowed drafting board and a $500 loan from his father. At the time only twenty-three years old, Lindberg advertised his business as 'any and all general drafting' and was based out of 170 Broadway in New York City. Only two years later, in 1911, the firm secured its first contract from the American Automobile Association to make 'road maps'. Lindberg incorporated his business in 1914 and became its first Chairman of the Board, a position he held until his death in 1968. Lindberg persuaded Standard Oil of New Jersey to let him draw the 'best' road map of the state that they had ever seen, and Standard Oil would distribute it for free. Sufficiently impressed with the finished product, Standard contracted General Drafting to make all their road maps - a relationship that lasted another six decades. This relationship allowed General Drafting to work exclusively for Standard Oil, but when oil companies stopped providing free maps, General Drafting was in a bind. The company tried to expand into the retail map market, and it of course continued creating maps for Exxon (the new name for Standard Oil) to sell, but its returns continued to decline. The firm was purchased in 1992 by Langenscheidt and subsequently absorbed into the American Map Company. General Drafting's state maps became this company's 'Travelvision' lineup. More by this mapmaker...

Condition


Good. Wear along original fold lines. Verso repairs to fold separations. Areas of loss at some fold intersections. Text and smaller maps on verso.

References


Rumsey 8233.005.