This is a noteworthy tourist map published by Walter Watson for the Berkshire Life Insurance Company, Pittsfield, Mass. The map lays out the railways and highways of the Berkshire Hills region in 1896 in remarkable detail. A legend at upper right identifies main roads, school houses, cemeteries, churches, railroad stations, and much, much more. The Berkshire Hills are described at right in a long excerpt from "Taghconic," by F.E.A. Smith. A vignette shows "View of the Berkshire Hills. Greylock Peak from the south end of Lake Onota." The 1883 edition has a second vignette showing the company's headquarters building, removed in this 1896 edition. According to the Harvard University Gazette, Oct. 24, 2002, this map is widely regarded as the first 'free' road map ever distributed mainly for use by touring bicyclists. A beautiful example.

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Condition: A+

Folding, as issued. A flawless example.