"A Good-Natured Map of Alaska Showing the Services Offered by "The Alaska Line" and Suggesting Some of the Most Interesting Features of the Territory",

This pictorial tourist map was published by the Alaska Steamship Company to encourage travel from the continental US to Alaska. Steamship routes are shown originating in Seattle, "Gateway to Alaska." Other forms of transportation are identified in Alaska and neighboring Yukon Territory, such as railroads and highways. The map illustrates "some of the most interesting features of the Territory" and popular activities, including Mt. McKinley, active volcanoes, gold dredging, the northern lights, dog sledding, and various types of wildlife depicted as cartoonish rather than dangerous. A large inset in Canada focuses on the region between Anchorage and Fairbanks and includes a note touting Alaska's history of "romance and adventure" and pride of place as "America's most varied vacationland." A comic strip at bottom shows how comfortable and luxurious it is to travel via steamship, and a note in British Columbia reassures the seasick traveler of low winds and smooth travel by ship between Seattle and Skagway.

This map was created by Edward Camy (1904-58), a native Californian who spent the majority of his career as a graphic artist in San Francisco. This is the rare first edition, which was reissued in 1934 with the vignette of modes of transportation at bottom right changed to a dog, and again in 1939 and 1940 with changes to the steamship routes and coloring. Published by Farwest Lithography & Printing Co., Seattle.

References: Hornsby (Picturing America) #115; Rumsey #8843.

Condition: B+

A colorful example with minor toning at right, light extraneous creasing throughout, and an edge tear in the bottom blank margin that has been closed on verso with archival materials.