This exquisite and rare pictorial map of Aruba was designed and executed by Don Blair and Bettina Steinke. It depicts the island before its tourism industry exploded. The island is decorated with illustrations, including renderings of the refineries, a big cartoon baby crying in Baby Lagoon, a beachgoer fleeing a shark, a hunter missing his shot at a hare, a grazing herd of sheep, aloe fields, a gold prospector with his donkey, circling pelicans, and much more. The island's system of roads is simply delineated. Oranjestad, Santa Cruz, Noord, and San Nicolas are all identified. In the top right corner, "Senor Trade Wind" blows a mighty gust. The bottom corners are filled with elegant illustrations of a sea nymph and cacti. The coat of arms of the Netherlands is given an elaborate styling at bottom center. The border is a series of ships, landscapes, and automobiles in silhouette. A compass rose orients the north to top left. This example is mounted on linen.

References: Rumsey #8938.

Condition: B+

A crisp example mounted on linen, repairing a few marginal chips and edge tears, a few of which enter into map image, the longest measuring 3" at right. A couple faint stains appear in the border at top left.