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Previously Unrecorded Pictorial Map of Texas.
Impressive vintage pictorial map of Texas as the largest and most important state in the United States - naturally! The map was issued by Winfree Printing Co., with the art provided by "Schwark".
The map is perhaps the best of the "Texas Brags"-type pictorials of the 1930s to 1960s, which massively expanded the actual footprint of the state and included numerous jokes riffing on that concept. The Lone Start State's outsized borders extend from Mexico to Canada, while the other 47 states are crammed into the margins and relegated to supporting roles.
Numerous vignettes and accompanying text provide an exaggerated summary of the state’s culture, industry, history, and recreation. Many of the (largely unsubstantiated) claims/jokes are harmless (World’s Finest Sunshine, Ownership of Pike’s Peak in Doubt), but several distasteful references to Native Americans and Mexicans provide real insight into the mid-century Texan psyche. “Authenticity of all statements and accusations will be vouched for by any Texan”, according to a note just below the title.
Although it states in the lower right that the map was “printed in Texas by Cowboys”, the work is signed by an artist with the name of Schwark and was published in Dallas by the Winfree Printing Company around 1952 (note the reference to the ongoing Korean War).
Dating
Though undated, the map can be confidently attributed to 1952; see the reference to the Korean War. Furthermore, the map makes no mention of Hawaii and Alaska (both granted statehood in 1959), and the depiction of Cuba seems to rule out the Cuban Revolution (1953-59).
Rarity
Evidently previously unrecorded. Untraced in institutional collections (OCLC, Rumsey, etc.). No copies in RBH.
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![(Republic of Texas Land Title) [Spanish-Mexico land sale document, 1838, Nacogdoches, Texas] Benta de un solar de tierra que hisieron Maria Tiburcia Ybarro y Maria Trinidad Ybarro a Juan S. Roberts. Nacogdoches](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/88918.jpg)
