1939 Wallingford Map of the United States as seen by a New Yorker

This is a whimsical 1939 Daniel K. Wallingford pictorial map depicting a New Yorker's idea of the United States. Wallingford presents a humorously distorted view of the United States, wherein New York State, Manhattan and Brooklyn, and other areas frequented by New Yorkers (Florida, Bermuda, etc.), are vastly outsized in proportion to the rest of the country. This edition was issued for the 1939 New York World's Fair, which is illustrated just north of Brooklyn.

A Closer Look

The map is a charming combination of humor and satire, depicting the provincialism of 'some' New Yorkers, for whom certain parts of the country are more significant than others. For example, the southern United States is humorously depicted, with a massive Florida, and four rivers, each named 'Swanee River'. Hollywood and San Francisco take up two-thirds of California and are shown as separate states. Minneapolis and Indianapolis are shown as 'twin cities' in Michigan, with Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, Dubuque, and Nebraska as cities in Illinois. Nevada is a city in Reno, and New Mexico is a city in Texas. The Great Salt Lake replaces Lake Superior, while Lake Michigan takes the name of Lake Superior. Lake Champlain is bigger than Lake Michigan, while Lake Erie is depicted as a tiny lake in northern New York.

The map also includes illustrations of ships, whales, islands etc. The lower right corner features four views of New York, including the Empire State building, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the Fifth Avenue Coach. Views along the bottom include a stylized depiction of the west as a land of stage coaches and desert, while on the right, the east features sleek futuristic cars and residential towers.

Publication History and Census

This map has a confused and poorly understood publishing history. The earliest known state appeared in 1932, and is titled 'The New Yorker who has never been west of New Jersey…'. The 1932 first state was revised with new border art in 1935. Relating to this revision, there is a signed letter by Wallingford, dated September 2, 1935, that included a black and white example of the map and a note that this is a 'revised' edition 'now available in three sizes' (8.5 x 6.6 in, 12.5 x 10 in, 20 x 15 in). It is this edition that embraces the title 'A New Yorker's Idea…'. The same letter also establishes Wallingford's address at the time as 119 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, suggesting that as the earliest address on record for the 1935 edition. Wallingford ultimately had multiple publication addresses, including: 231 East 46th Street, New York (Copyright Wallingford, 1932); 452 West 144th Street, New York (Copyright Wallingford, 1935); 119 Massachusetts Ave, Boston (Copyright Wallingford, c. 1936); 54 Falmouth Street, Boston (Wallingford c. 1946); 222 Marlborough Street, Boston (Copyright Wallingford, c. 1937); 452 West 144th Street, New York (Copyright Wallingford, c. 1939); New York (Columbia University Book Store, c. 1939). There is also a heavily revised edition issued in 1941. Additionally, Wallingford produced a similar map, the 'Bostonian's Idea of the United State of America', likewise in a confusing array of dates and editions.