1938 Kenneth Friedman's Cartoon Map of Florida
By: Kenneth Friedman
Date: 1938 (dated) New York
Dimensions: 16.5 x 19.5 inches (42 x 49.5 cm)
An impressive pictorial map of Florida, made during an important time in the state's modern history.
This is an incredibly detailed and humorous, cartoon / pictorial map of Florida published in 1938 by Kenneth Friedman as part of "Cartoon Guide of Florida," a 142 page epic travel book, promoting tourism in Florida.
The map contains a thick red line, delineating the route of Florida's most accommodating highways. Throughout the state, place names are woven in with illustrations of tourist attractions, indigenous flora and fauna, historic monuments, and various national forests, and swamp lands, including the "Everglade National Park (project)." At the time of printing, the park was authorized (1934), but because of difficulties acquiring land, it was not established until 1947.
Surrounding the subtropical peninsula of Florida, are illustrations of over fifty different species of fish, including barracuda, tarpon, sailfish, mackerel, red snapper, snook, bonito, grouper, and king fish to name a few. An important element of the map as much of Florida's tourism at the time (especially pre-Disney World), was based around sport fishing.
A large rectangular title cartouche dominates the Gulf of Mexico, with several humorous cartoons, one of which reads "Bathing beauties prance with reckless abandon at the bewitching seashore." Another touting the brand new, full highway from the mainland to Key West which was officially opened for traffic on March 29, 1938, reads "You can go to sea by car over the scenic oversea highway."
Condition: This map is in B+ condition, originally folded now flat, with some minor tears at the top, left of center, that have been reinforced on the verso using archival materials.
Inventory #11536
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