1957 Sahab Map of Iran

This is a 1957 Abbas Sahab map of Iran. The map depicts Iran in full, from Iraq and Turkey to Afghanistan and Pakistan and from the Caucasus, the Caspian Sea, and Turkmenistan to the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Using inset maps of varying size, Sahab illustrates political, cultural, historical, and economic aspects of Iran. A large political map highlighting the ostans, provinces, shahrestans, and townships within the country occupies the right half of the sheet. Each ostan is bordered in a different color, and further subdivided into provinces and other administrative districts. Many cities, towns, and villages are labeled, including Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz.

On the left side of the sheet, seven smaller maps of varying size illustrate different aspects of Iranian society and culture. Starting at the top left, a pictorial map traces Iranian industry and factory production using different symbols for each industry/factory/handicraft. Chemical factories, canneries, cotton gins, oil industry facilities, and other factories producing cigarettes, sugar, leather are highlighted here, as well as carpet making, perfumeries, and artists. To the right of the industrial map is a pictorial map of Iran's historical monuments and other interesting sites. Fifty-two different sites are numerically identified, illustrated in profile, and identified in the textboxes along the left and right sides. Perhaps a bit incongruously, people, presumably tourists on holiday, are illustrated in bathing suits in the Caspian Sea. Below these two maps sits a pictorial map of traditional Iranian tribal costumes that illustrates the costumes of sixty-five different tribes. Next to this map is a topographical relief map that illustrates Iran's topography, naming fifty-eight mountain peaks. Below these two maps, along the bottom border, a pictorial map depicts Iranian flora and fauna. On left side, a sub-map defines the Iranian rail network. A very small inset map in the lower left corner illustrates Iran's air routes.

Along the bottom, two different graphs depict the elevation of the Iranian plateau above sea level, providing the viewer with a better understanding of just how high most of the country sits. Another small inset map of the world is included along the bottom border and is meant to show where Iran is in relation to the rest of the world. Yet another inset map, in the lower right corner, traces the mineral wealth of Iran identifying deposits of aluminum, gold, iron, oil, salt, marble, and copper, among others. Two small inset maps situated along the right side provide general information about Iran and its forested region. The general information provided includes the area, which is 622,000 square miles, its population (18,000,000), and the number of villages (50,000). An alphabetical index of cities and towns with the altitudes and distances from Tehran is included in the upper right corner. The whole is surrounded by a pictorial border.

Publication History and Census

This map was created by Abbas Sahab and published in Tehran in 1957. Several different editions were published beginning in the mid-1950s and continuing through the early 1970s. We have been unable to locate any other examples of the 1957 edition.