"Reg Manning's Cartoon Map of California",

As indicated on the map itself, "one glance at this map should convince you that the 'bear state' is no bare state." The map is densely packed with information on roads, towns, tourist sites, national parks, and pictorial images of the people, history, topography, and flora and fauna of the state. Interesting notations are interspersed throughout, some of which are factual and some meant to add humor to the map. A couple driving near the power lines extending from Boulder Dam exclaim "Oh dear! John, I just remembered I left the electric iron turned on at home!" and fish below a glass-bottom boat muse "I get a kick out o' those humans' funny faces!" Whimsical figures and puns abound in this superb map, which is depicted on a sheet of crumbling parchment.

Although born in Kansas City, Missouri, Reginald Manning moved to Phoenix, Arizona as a teenager and remained in Arizona for the remainder of his life. His only formal art training was in high school, however he became known for his editorial cartoons, even winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1951 for one of his cartoons about the Korean War entitled "Hats."

References: Rumsey #8765.

Condition: A+

A bright example, issued folding and now flattened and professionally backed in thin, archival tissue.