Catalog Archive
Auction 190, Lot 223

"A Scott-Map of Boston Massachusetts",

Subject: Boston, Massachusetts

Period: 1955 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Printed Color

Size:
27.1 x 20.8 inches
68.8 x 52.8 cm
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This lovely pictorial map was created by Alva Scott Garfield. Scott's cartographic career began in 1926 with a decorative pictorial map of her alma mater, Wellesley College, and was entitled Newe Mapp of Wellesley. In 1929, Scott produced another campus map of nearby Wheaton College (MA). Scott took a 20-year hiatus from map production to focus on other endeavors, but in the late 1940s began producing both campus maps and regional views in New England including this one. Roderick Barron of Barron Maps wrote an outstanding article describing Alva Scott Garfield's life & work here.

This view of Boston extends to Cambridge and Charlestown. The map is packed with illustrations, and both humorous and historical notes. Locates Boston University, the Sears Roebuck building, John Hancock building, Custom House and more. Decorated by a compass rose and border featuring cod. Beneath the title states:

"And this is good old Boston,
The home of the beans & the cod;
Where the Lowells speak only to Cabots,
And the Cabots speak only to God."

References: Hornsby (Picturing America) p. 22; Rumsey #8780.

Condition: B

A clean and colorful example with the top edge reinforced on verso with archival tape to repair numerous short tears. There are two chips along the top sheet edge with loss of border at top left.

Estimate: $180 - $220

Sold for: $200

Closed on 11/16/2022

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