1942 Secretaria de Agricultura Map of the State of Oaxaca, Mexico

This is a 1942 Secretaria de Agricultura y Fomento map of the state of Oaxaca, in southern Mexico. The map depicts Oaxaca from its borders with Guerrero and Puebla to Chiapas and Tabasco and from Puebla, Veracruz, and the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. Oaxaca is one of the most biologically diverse states in Mexico and is best known for its indigenous peoples and cultures, of which there are sixteen that are officially recognized. One of the region's most recognizable traditions is the distillation of Mezcal, an exceptional agave spirit with an amazing artisinal heritage. This has been a strong tradition in the Oaxacan highlands since the colonial period. Both cultivated and wild varieties of agave are used to distil mezcal. Highly detailed, numerous cities, towns, and villages are labeled, along with highways, roads, and railroads. Rivers, lakes, and mountains are also illustrated.

This map was produced by the Oficina de Cartografíia y Cálculo, which is part of the Departamento Geográfico, the Dirección de Geografía, Meteorología e Hidrología, which are all overseen by the Secretaría de Agricultura y Fomento. Any early map of Oaxaca is extremely difficult to find.