Catalog Archive
Auction 160, Lot 300

NO RESERVE

"Martha's Vineyard - 150 Miles of Shore and Country Scenic Highways", Cram, George F. & Company

Subject: Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

Period: 1925 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Printed Color

Size:
8.5 x 6.2 inches
21.6 x 15.7 cm
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George Franklin Cram was a civil war veteran who marched with Sherman prior to his career as a map publisher. In 1867, George F. Cram and his uncle, Rufus Blanchard, founded the company Blanchard & Cram in Evanston, IL. The company manufactured and sold maps and atlases. Cram became the sole owner two years later and renamed it the George F. Cram Company. They sold a wide variety of atlases including the popular Unrivaled Atlas of the World which was printed continuously from the 1880s to 1952. In 1921, George Cram sold his business to one of his largest customers, E.A. Peterson of the National Map Company. The company is to this day producing quality maps and globes.

This little promotional map of Martha's Vineyard emphasizes the road network on the island with a key identifying state roads, other roads, and proposed roads. Includes a table of distances from Oak Bluffs to various destinations below the map image. The verso contains promotional text intended for the tourist along with a business directory. The map is identified as published by Cram, but the brochure itself was produced by David McBride, who, according to the business directory on the verso, owned a taxi cab company (that could take you on all these great roads!).

References:

Condition: A

Near fine condition with a few minor manuscript notations in the map and the bottom blank margin that do not distract.

Estimate: $80 - $100

Unsold

Closed on 11/16/2016

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