1952 Pan American World Airways System Map

A striking 1952 world map illustrating the routes of Pan American World Airways. A towering pioneer in the aviation industry, the company was among the first to offer reliable international passenger service and, by the 1950s, had the most developed global network of any American airline.

A Closer Look

A Mercator projection world map centered on the United States is overlaid with lines depicting the company's routes, with flight duration and distances (in kilometers and miles) noted. Relief is shown by shading and color, with the height of major peaks recorded.

Among destinations, the greatest density lies in Central and South America (where the company first cut its teeth) and Western Europe. Many routes originated in New York City at the New York International Airport (then commonly known as Idlewild), later renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport. The geographical divisions of the early Cold War are readily apparent, as the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and China (though not Hong Kong) sit beyond the scope of Pan Am's impressive network.

The verso includes panels touting the airline's amenities, affordability, and destinations.

Publication History and Census

This map was prepared by Pan American World Airways and Jeppesen and Company and was published in 1952. There are two variants of the map, identical on the recto but with different illustrations and text on the verso; here, with the title 'Your Clipper Trip' with a red ink motif and an alternate printing with the title 'Destinations Unlimited' and a dark blue ink motif. The trademark on the verso suggests that this motif might have been printed in 1954 with the 1952 map on the recto. Subsequent editions of Pan Am world route maps with the title 'Destinations Unlimited' were published in 1956, 1959, and 1961, while the 'Your Clipper Trip' variant was printed in a single edition. Regardless of verso content, the map is listed among the holdings of 8 institutions in the OCLC.