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1944 Ernest Dudley Chase WWII Pictorial Map of Japan and Korea
JapantheTarget-chase-1944$550.00
Title
Japan, The Target A Pictorial Jap-Map.
1944 (undated) 15.5 x 23 in (39.37 x 58.42 cm) 1 : 6600000
1944 (undated) 15.5 x 23 in (39.37 x 58.42 cm) 1 : 6600000
Description
This is a rare 1944 Ernest Dudley Chase pictorial map of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, reflecting the steady advance of Allied forces towards the Home Islands in the final phase of World War II (1939 - 1945) in the Pacific. It is signed by Chase in pencil on the lower margin.
A Closer Look
Coverage details the Japanese Empire in 1944, as allied forces were closing in on the Home Islands, thus embracing Japan, Korea, Manchuria (Manchuko), and Taiwan, with adjacent parts of Russia, China, and the Philippines. The map incorporates the Japanese 'Rising Sun' symbol as a motif for its near-resemblance to a target. Concentric circles radiate at 200-mile intervals from Tokyo while Allied (primarily American) fighters and bombers (A-31, P-51, B-25, B-29, B-25, A-20, P-40, P-39, and B-17) streak toward their target.Historical Context
By 1944, the Pacific War had reached a critical turning point as Allied forces, led by the United States, intensified their island-hopping campaign against Japan. The year began with the successful capture of the Marshall Islands in January and continued with decisive victories in the Mariana Islands, including Saipan, Guam, and Tinian, by mid-year. These conquests brought American bombers within striking distance of the Japanese home islands, significantly weakening Japan's defensive perimeter. Meanwhile, the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, the largest naval battle in history, resulted in a devastating blow to the Japanese fleet, marking the beginning of the end for Japan's naval power. The relentless Allied advance, combined with devastating air raids on Japanese cities, signaled the growing inevitability of Japan's defeat, setting the stage for the final phase of the Pacific War in 1945.Publication History and Census
This map was published by Ernest Dudley Chase in 1944. There are a few variants, including one in black and white and one with verso printing of a 1942 general map of the Pacific War. One of Chase's rarer maps, we see just 3 examples in OCLC and limited market history.Cartographer
Ernest Dudley Chase (July 26, 1878 - August 25, 1966) was an American illustrator of greeting cards and pictorial maps active in the first half of the 20th century. From his studio in Winchester, Massachusetts, Chase became famous for his elaborately illustrated pictorial maps. He was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, and attended the Lowell Textile School and the Vesper George Art School. He took work with Butterfield Printing Company in 1900. In 1906, he moved to the W. T. Sheehan Printing Firm. He began producing postcards and greeting cards on his own account in 1908. This initial imprint was Des Arts Publishers, but later, he changed it to Ernest Dudley Chase Publishers. Chase is best known today for his distinctive pictorial maps, most of which he published privately, characterized by dense vignette images of important locations. The biographical pamphlet A Meticulous Maker of Maps describes Chase's attention to detail wherein, pursuing a 'passion for perfection' by stippling his images 'dot-by-dot, with tiny pens' under a magnifying glass. His impressive corpus includes nearly 50 maps focusing on various parts of the United States and Europe, as well as other international locations and novelty pieces. Most are thematic, focusing on topics such as wonders of the world, stamps, aviation, and war. Others, such as his map of The United States as viewed by California and Loveland are satirical. All, in their original editions, are coveted by a dedicated following of modern collectors. More by this mapmaker...
Condition
Very good. Signed in pencil by Chase, lower margin.
References
Rumsey 8056.000. Boston Public Library, Leventhal Center, G7961.A5 1943 .C43. Hornsby, S. J., Picturing America: The Golden Age of Pictorial Maps, pl. 138. Harvard University, Hollis: 990090033260203941.