1944 Our New Neighbors | Projected Global Air Routes Showing Great Circle Mileage Between Important Cities of the World
DESCRIPTION
A rare and fascinating WWII era route map for Western Airlines, one of the earliest commercial airlines established in the United States. Illustrated by Sally De Long and published in 1944, this map is a foundational work representing trend of impressive airline maps that would continue into the early 1970s.
Cartographic Design and Visual Features
This striking map presents the world in polar projection form looking down from the Northern Hemisphere. Radiating flight paths line the map linking key global cities that were lucky enough to experience the early age of commercial aviation. The continents are rendered in vivid red against a dramatic black circular field, with oceans labeled in elegant script. Surrounding the main map are whimsical zodiac-like planetary forms, lending a surreal, space-age feel to the composition.
Flight paths are delineated by vivid white lines that shine with the right angle of light and include the mileage between points. Cheerful yellow animals; camels, elephants, kangaroos, and others dot various continents to symbolize the exotic fauna of far away destinations. The playful ornamentation and geometric framing pattern enhance its graphic appeal, while the map title is tucked into an ornate red and black cartouche at upper right, proudly crediting De Long as the artist.
Historical Context and Significance
Created during the final years of World War II, this piece is part of a larger trend in mid-20th century airline advertising that leaned heavily on artistic maps and modernist design to promote optimism, global mobility, and the romance of air travel. Western Airlines, founded in 1925, was one of the oldest U.S. carriers and sought to position itself as a pioneer of commercial aviation with maps like this, blending cartographic invention with aspirational branding. Sally De Long’s work reflects the era’s fascination with global connection and the burgeoning confidence in air travel’s role in a postwar world.
CONDITION
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