Rare Pictorial Map of Minnesota Designed and Published by Women

"The Arrowhead of Minnesota",

This rare pictorial map of the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota was published by the Hibbing, MN branch of the American Association of University Women. The map was designed by Irene Anderson, and the blocks and border were illustrated by Kathryn Arnquist. Illustrations of historical events, Indigenous culture, and wildlife pepper the landscape. Babe, Paul Bunyan's famous ox, is shown stomping new lakes into existence. Insets depict Fort Saint Charles on the shore of Lake of the Woods and five sources of the Mississippi. The historical vignettes along the sides of the map span from "the oldest rock in the world" in 1,000,000,000 B.C. to Leonidas Merritt's discovery of iron ore at Salamander in 1890, with a detour into tall tales to show Paul Bunyan during the winter of the blue snow. The inventive compass rose is an Indigenous shield with an arrow through it indicating north and south. Further decorated with a title cartouche and ornate borders. A terrific and informative all-female production.

References: Rumsey #8912.

Condition: B+

A colorful example on paper with a "Waterfalls Bond" watermark. There is an edge tear that enters 4.5" into map image at top right that has been closed on verso with archival tape.