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Wall Map of the World After World War I
This world map, titled Bartholomew’s Chart of the World on Mercator’s Projection, is a striking example of early 20th-century cartographic design. Published around 1920, it was produced by John Bartholomew & Son, a renowned Scottish mapmaking firm known for their high-quality, detailed maps. The map uses the Mercator projection, a standard for nautical navigation, which preserves accurate compass bearings but distorts land masses, particularly near the poles.
The map includes an extensive network of shipping routes, marked with fine lines crisscrossing the oceans, indicative of the global maritime trade at the time. Major ocean currents, submarine telegraph cables, and key ports are also represented, reinforcing the map’s practical use for navigation and trade.
As the map was produced shortly after World War I, it reflects the geopolitical landscape of the early postwar period. The Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires had recently dissolved, leading to the emergence of new national boundaries in Europe and the Middle East. In Africa, the colonial possessions of European powers remain clearly delineated, illustrating the continued influence of imperial rule across the continent. The nation of Yugo-slavia appears on the map.
The British Empire, still at its height, is highlighted in characteristic pink or red, following the cartographic tradition used in many British-made maps. The Soviet Union does not yet appear, as Russia is still labeled with pre-1922 territorial divisions. In Asia, China is shown with its early 20th-century provincial structure, while Japan’s empire includes Taiwan and Korea.
In the lower left corner, the map features two insets:
- North Polar Chart – A detailed projection of the Arctic region, showing Greenland, the Arctic Archipelago, and the northern reaches of Russia and Canada. This inset is useful for understanding Arctic navigation routes, which were becoming increasingly important.
- South Polar Chart – A projection of Antarctica, reflecting early 20th-century exploration efforts. Many areas remain largely blank or sparsely detailed, indicative of the limited exploration of the continent at that time.
Bartholomew’s world maps were widely respected for their accuracy and detail, used in both educational and professional settings.