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A Rare Prince Edward Island Pictorial Map and View -- Possibly Unrecorded

The Illustrated Plan and Souvenir of Prince Edward Island, drawn in 1934 by Arthur Wallace and this example published in 1937 by Karl A. Steeves Advertising, offers a detailed pictorial representation of the island.

The map prominently features the individual plans of five key towns on the island: Charlottetown, Summerside, Georgetown, Montague, and Souris. These town plans are visually integrated into a larger layout, showcasing the geography of Prince Edward Island as well as its commercial and infrastructural elements.

The map of Charlottetown is centered and rendered in a three-dimensional perspective, highlighting the city’s grid layout and the importance of Charlottetown Harbour. In addition to Charlottetown, there are smaller bird's-eye views of Summerside, Georgetown, Montague, and Souris, each depicted with considerable detail. Alongside the visual depictions, the map includes extensive business directories for each town, listing a variety of establishments from hotels to shops, wholesale stores, and banks, giving insight into the island's economic landscape during the time.

Beneath the town illustrations, the broader map of Prince Edward Island is detailed with its road networks, geographic features, and numbered key locations, likely corresponding to points of interest or business listings. Additionally, decorative cartouches containing drawings of island scenes and historical landmarks adorn the lower part of the map, providing a sense of place and cultural context.

This pictorial map is not only a practical guide for travelers and locals but also a collectible souvenir reflecting the island’s commercial and cultural vibrancy in the 1930s. Its artistic presentation, combined with its detailed information, made it both a functional item and a keepsake for visitors to Prince Edward Island.

Rarity

The map is very rare.  

We were unable to locate another example of the map.

OCLC locates a view entitled BIRD'S EYE VIEW MAP OF CHARLOTTETOWN, in the collection Mount Allison University by Arthur Wallace, but a date of 2022, suggesting it may be a commemorative re-issue of this view.