Catalog Archive
Auction 129, Lot 253

"[Lot of 28 - Early Road Maps]", Automobile Club of Southern California

Subject: California

Period: 1915-30 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Black & White

Size:
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This large collection of early California road maps consists of 19 single-card maps, plus nine early folding road maps, all, save one, produced by the Automobile Club of Southern California. The single-card maps are approximately 3.8 x 10.5" and are the precursors of the AAA "Trip Tik" travel maps. Ten of the single-card maps are from 1915 and 1916. The other nine are in the original paper envelope titled "Los Angeles California to Phoenix Arizona via Salton Sea." On the verso many of these single-card maps list "Official" hotels and garages along the route. It is unclear how many different map cards were produced and the numbering scheme employed.

The loose single card maps include two regional cards: San Francisco to San Gregorio and Return; and Los Angeles to Sunland, La Crescenta & La Canada. The other cards include routes in and around Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Los Olivos, Venice, Santa Monica, Salinas, Watersonville, Santa Cruz, and Pacific Grove. The last card details the "40 Mile Drive" between Carmel, Pacific Grove and Monterey which includes today's famous 17-mile drive.

The folding road maps include: Santa Cruz to San Jose; Touring San Diego County; Touring Santa Barbara and Vicinity; Los Angles to the Beaches; Map of Southern California; Pasadena and Vicinity; Redlands California; Los Angeles and Vicinity; and Free Map of Los Angeles. The last map was issued by the Bekins Van and Storage Company. Most of the folding maps are dated 1915 or 1916; the Bekins map is undated.

References:

Condition: A

A couple unnumbered maps have red pencil numbering on the face. All are in generally very good condition. The LA to Phoenix folder has a little staining.

Estimate: $200 - $300

Sold for: $150

Closed on 9/23/2009

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