California Official Tourist Picture Map
Los Angeles / San Francisco: All-Year Club / Californians Inc., 1936. Map printed in green and white. Single sheet. Approximately 38" x 17". Printed on both sides.
A large and stunning 1930s bird's-eye panoramic map of California, looking inland from high above the Pacific Ocean. This unusual view of California on her belly appears on one side of this tourism brochure, with a smaller, traditional map to correct scale and visitor information on the other side.
This piece was produced to promote tourism to California, but 1936 was also the height of Dust Bowl immigration to California (famously portrayed in Steinbeck's, "The Grapes of Wrath"). Therefore, amidst the boosterism on the reverse side of the map we find this stern notice:
"Warning / While attractions for tourists are unlimited in California, it is necessary to advise persons seeking employment not to come here at this time. When opportunity arises California will gladly make it known."
Charles Owens was a skilled artist who perfected aerial perspective maps for newspapers, though he had no formal training in cartography. This is an excellent and uncommon example of his work.
Ref. HORNSBY pp. 23-28.
Original fold creases, with an occasional small hole at intersections, otherwise fine.
Item #1847
Sold