Catalog Archive
Auction 130, Lot 249

"[Lot of 2] Clason's Guide Map of the State of Colorado [and] Colorado Rand McNally Indexed Pocket Map",

Subject: Colorado

Period: 1920-32 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Printed Color

Size:
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1) Clason Map Company, circa 1932, Denver, 22" x 17". This great map of Colorado shows high detail of counties, towns & villages, and railroads. But the map has two standout features. First, the map is filled with a large network of red overprinted automobile roads including the "Main Auto Roads" with many named but without a numbering system at this time. Second, this issue focuses on "Oil Resources" by R.D. George, State Geologist, Boulder. The legend uses red overprinted icons to locate Oil Fields; Oil Shale; Anticlina Areas; Anticlines; Oil & Gas in Water Wells, Seeps, etc; Oil & Gas Indicated by Drilling; and Bitumen & Oil Sands. On the map the huge Oil Shale deposits in the northwest are clearly shown as is an early depiction of the Rangley Oil Field where your faithful cataloger worked as a roughneck in his younger days. The field was expanded in 1931 by Chevron Oil, thus assisting in dating the map. Folds into green pictorial covers with 40pp Green Guide booklet containing plans of Denver, Pueblo, and Colorado Springs, and another map of Denver "Showing Drives in and out of the City." A few short marginal splits in blank lower margin.

2) Rand McNally & Co., circa 1920, Chicago, 25.5" x 19". Finely engraved and colored map of the state that shows very early Electric Lines that radiating from Denver to Boulder, south through Littleton to Acequia, a line to Golden and a partially build line reaching for the mining communities that ends short of Leyden. At upper left is a list of 28 railroads in red overprinting. Includes some rare systems including the Book Cliffs (Irregular Service) and Uintah lines. On the verso is the "Automobile Road Map" with a faint, screened-out map of Colorado overlaid with bright red overprinting to delineate all Auto Roads including those of the National Highways Associations. Folds into tan paper covers with 56pp booklet filled with advertisements and information on the state. The map is fine but has a small area of loss, where attached to the cover, that affects index at side of map and the border on the auto roads map. Map loose and booklet held on by one staple, old owner's signature on front cover.

References:

Condition:

See individual descriptions.

Estimate: $100 - $150

Sold for: $75

Closed on 12/2/2009

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