This uncommon and brilliant pictorial map of the continent was designed by Margaret Whiting Spilhaus (1889-1981), a South African artist, writer, and educator. Spilhaus produced five large-format pictorial maps between 1923-43: Africa, Australia, South America, Pan-Africa, and this map. With their appealing graphic style, emphasis on adventure, and depictions of varying cultures and wild animals, Spilhaus's maps were aimed towards the entertainment and education of children. The landscape of North America is dense with charming illustrations of farmers, Indigenous peoples, livestock, gold prospecting, oil fields, lumber yards, dog sledding, and more. Ships and sea life fill the surrounding waters. Spilhaus's interest in exploration and colonial history is reflected in the several historical vignettes surrounding the map. Among the events depicted are Leif Erikson traveling from Labrador to Maine (1001), Juan Ponce de Leon sighting the Fountain of Youth (1512 or 1513), the meeting of Cortes and Montezuma (1519), "Singeing King Philip's Beard," the mutiny of Henry Hudson's crew (1611), the Plymouth colonists watching the Mayflower depart (1621), and Lewis and Clark speaking to a tribe through an interpreter (1803). Each of the depicted events is accompanied by descriptive text in an ornate cartouche. The map is further decorated by coats of arms, flags, an inset map of the North Pole, and a large Indigenous figure with a peace pipe (bottom right), all set within an elaborate border. Published by George Philip and Son.

References: Rumsey #14071.

Condition: B

A colorful example backed in linen as issued with light toning and moderate dampstaining along the left edge that enters map image at top left. There is chipping along the edges, with a 0.5" chip within the border at top left and another 0.5" chip just below that has been reattached with archival materials. A handful of edge tears enter into map border, and there are pinholes in the top and bottom blank margins.