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1945 Government of India Information Services Map of India
India-govtindiainfoserv-1945$175.00
Title
India.
1945 (undated) 29.25 x 21.5 in (74.295 x 54.61 cm)
1945 (undated) 29.25 x 21.5 in (74.295 x 54.61 cm)
Description
This is a c. 1945 Government of India Information Services map of India only a few years before independence and partition. The map highlights the geographical differences between British India and the Indian States as well as India's topography.
A Closer Look
The map illustrates India near the end of World War II, with color dividing British India (red) and the Indian States (yellow). Major regions are identified and four cities (Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras) are labeled using banners. India's extensive railway network (the fourth largest in the world with 41,434 miles of track) appears along with its many rivers. An inset in the lower right presents India's elevation in three broad categories: below 1,000 feet (yellow), between 1,000 and 3,000 feet (green), and above 3,000 feet (blue). The map is framed by a border bearing pictorial illustrations and short information-rich captions that provide its American audience with some understanding of this country on the other side of the world. One illustration compares India's size with that of the United States, while this caption states that India is half the size of the U.S. but has almost three times the population. Others provide information concerning India's participation in World War II (1939 - 1945), culture, and economy.Publication History and Census
This map was created and published by Government of India Information Services at their offices in Washington, D.C. 17 examples are cataloged in OCLC. We also note an example at the Hoover Institution. It is scarce on the private market.Condition
Very good. Mounted on old linen. Bears stamp from the Forbes Library in Northampton, Massachusetts on verso.
References
Hoover Institution XX343.9810. OCLC 12205488.