Catalog Archive
Auction 175, Lot 182

One of the Few Maps Created by a Female - First Case of Copyright Infringement

"City Map of Los Angeles Calif. and Hill's Downtown Map with Directory of Office Buildings Depots, Banks, Theatres Etc.",

Subject: Los Angeles, California

Period: 1923 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Black & White

Size:
21.9 x 24.6 inches
55.6 x 62.5 cm
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A highly detailed map of Los Angeles created by Laura Whitlock, one of the few female mapmakers in the United States at the time. The map extends from Manchester Avenue north to Hollywood and Highland Park with a street index along the borders. The verso contains the interesting Hill's Map of Los Angeles Theatre and Shopping District... (21 x 9.4") that locates over 200 different buildings with an index by building type. Published by the Standard Map Company.

Whitlock's maps were frequently copied on the market, but she was very diligent in litigating to protect her copyright. In fact, one of Whitlock's maps was involved in the first conviction for copyright infringement in the United States. Click herefor a newspaper story from the June 11, 1913 issue of the Los Angeles Herald detailing the conviction. Whitlock also brought suit in 1913 against the Security Savings Bank for copyright infringement - see lot 180 for an example of one of their maps of Los Angeles published prior to this suit. No past sales records or institutional copies located on OCLC.

References:

Condition: A

A clean example with a number of tiny splits at the fold junctions. Minor wear to paper wrappers with some manuscript notations on the rear wrapper.

Estimate: $200 - $230

Sold for: $800

Closed on 11/13/2019

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