Subject: Fresno, California
Period: 1920 (circa)
Publication:
Color: Printed Color
Size:
38 x 24 inches
96.5 x 61 cm
This large and very colorful bird's-eye view by Schmidt Litho Co. shows the entire valley from Bakersfield to Stockton with the coastal range in the foreground and the Sierra Nevada mountains stretching to the horizon. The map extends to include San Francisco and its bay, San Andreas, Sonora, Yosemite, Pine Ridge, Sequoia and Mount Whitney to mention a few. The map contains a large art deco title cartouche and is surrounded by more than 30 vignettes advertising the industry and bounty of the area. Half of the verso is the "Automobile Road Map of Fresno County" printed in orange and black. It extends to include Yosemite, Huntington Lake and Sequoia National Park. The map was published by the California State Automobile Association and shows the "Principle Automobile Roads." The lower half contains information and promotional text on Fresno. Self folds into pictorial covers (5 x 10") with mailer on one side showing postage 2 cents, which helps date this piece. First class postage in the U.S. was set at 2 cents in 1919 and raised to 3 cents in 1932. An uncommon promotional brochure that was published by the Fresno County Chamber of Commerce.
References: Hornsby (Picturing America) p. 9; Rumsey #8069.
Condition: B
Issued folding with archival repairs to a number of short fold separations and minor edge tears along top edge. There is some minor wear along a couple of folds and a few faint spots.