1939 Colortext Pictorial Story Map of the United States

This is a 1939 Colortext first edition story map of the United States. Depicting the continental U.S., this colorful map combines elements of American culture, landscape, and industrial production. Dramatic representations of the Rocky Mountains, the Ozarks, the Sierra Nevadas, and the Appalachians illustrate the geographical diversity of the nation, particularly when compared with the broad plains of the Midwest. Icons mark famous sites, promote American industry and agriculture, and highlight historical figures and events. The sharp-eyed can find portraits of George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, and Buffalo Bill among views of the U.S. Capitol, Hoover Dam (labeled Roosevelt Dam), and Independence Hall. Illustrations of grain elevators, oil derricks, and blimps are juxtaposed with views of sites like Mesa Verde, Old Faithful, and The Alamo. The whole is surrounded by a pictorial border focused on the the original thirteen colonies.

Publication History and Census

This map was created by Colortext Publications and published in 1939. A single example of the 1939 edition is cataloged in OCLC and is part of the collection at Pennsylvania State University. A second edition was published in 1943.