This lot contains two maps by Richard Edes Harrison with his unusual “Air Age” cartographic projections. According to Hornsby, these maps “displayed geographical relations between continents more correctly and radically changed, according to Harrison, the way we ‘look at the world’.” Both maps were issued as supplements in 1943.

A. World Island - A Fortune Map Orthographic Series, III (26.0 x 20.4"). This map focuses on the largest "world island," consisting of the old world continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. The map is color-coded to show the balance of power between Allied and Axis countries. An inset map at bottom shows "the other half."

B. Great Circle Airways (24.0 x 19.8"). This map is presented on a polar gnomic projection and shows the shortest air routes between two points. For example, New York to San Francisco is 2.500 miles and San Francisco to Tokyo is 5,100 miles. Includes an inset and explanation table at bottom.

References: Hornsby (Picturing America) p. 226.

Condition: A

Colorful examples, issued folding, with a few minor archival repairs along the sheet edges. Each has a binder's cut at left with partial loss of the scale on the first map.