War Maps from Cartographic Associates - Online Gallery of Antique Maps, Globes and Prints

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82.00 'Silk Maps', c1944 - 1952, Army Air Force / USAF

82.1 Silk Map

Escape and Evasion Cloth Maps

Most maps today are printed on good quality paper, but there were maps produced on cloth (or, textile cartography) dating back many centuries. The fabric map technique dates from the Han dynasty. In 1973-74 excavations near Mawangdui, in the province of Ch'ang-sha, China produced three maps drawn on silk. After careful restoration, it became clear that one of these maps (now known as the Garrison Map), had been prepared by cartographers to the king of Ch'ang-sha, whose kingdom was made up of modern Hunan and that the map was for military use sometime around 168 BC. The maps we offer were first introduced by the British during World War II. The first maps during WWII were issued by M19 and based on existing maps of John Bartholomew, one of England's most prominent map-makers. In addition to the British, the Australians and the United States began production of cloth maps. The Army Air Force (AAF) through the efforts of there Aeronautical Chart Service produced a series of the cloth maps on printed on rayon. From this came the term 'silk maps'. One of the military uses of the silk (cloth) maps was to have them included in the survival kits of allied pilots. There durability and foldability were ideal for downed pilots in enemy territory, for escape and evasion needs [the kits were known as Escape & Evasion Survival Kits]. After WWII the cloth 'silk maps' continued to be used as the Cold War escalated. Soon after WW II ended, the U.S. Air Force was formed and under their Aeronautical Chart Service the cloth maps continued until the early 1950's as part of the Cold War effort. The story of the WWII cloth (silk maps) has been difficult to piece together because of the manner in which they were developed and their production was shrouded in secrecy during and after the war. The collection we offer of these unique examples of mapping differ slightly in size. All are printed on both sides with adjoining sections. We also have a number of WW II maps listed below that are very rare and, in some case, were used by agents of the British intelligence service. The following list of cloth maps indicates ones still available: $60. each - except where noted, (shipping / handling / insurance $6.50) per order.

B17WBlackwellCrew

B-17 and crew of the 8th Air Force in England during World War II

82.01 Osaka / Tokyo (NI 53 / 54) published by the Army Air Force (AAF), Washington, D. C. , 1944, scale 1:1,000,000; (23" x 26"). ***SOLD***

82.02 Southwest Pacific Area, (#22 Southwestern - #26 East Java / #25 Timor) published by the Army Air Force (AAF), Washington, D.C., 1944; scale 1:1,000,000 (32" x 36").

82.03 Borneo ( C45 / C46) published by the U. S. Army Map Service, Washington, D. C. , 1944; 1:1,000,000 (27" x 30").

82.04 S.Honan / E. Hupeh / S. Kiangsh, Checkiang, [Formosa] China, (N/O 44), published by the British Royal Air Force (RAF) CBI Far East , London, 1944 (33.1" x 40.0). The map is one of a series of three and very rare, only a few known copies. They were made of a man-made material similar to rayon. $300.

82.05 Hakodate / Nemuro, Japan, (NK 54 / NK 55) published by the U. S. Army Map Service, Washington, D. C., 1944, scale 1:1,000,000 (22" x 24").

82.06 Vladivostok / Keijo, USSR, (NK 52 / NK 55) published by the U.S. Army Map Service, Washington, D. C. , 1943, scale 1: 1,000,000 (23.5" x 24 ').

82.07 Japan & South China Seas ( C 52 / C 53) published by the U. S. Army Map Service, Washington, D. C., 1945, scale 1: 1,000,000 (31" x 34" ).

82.08 Thailand - Northern Philippines, (CL 406 /407), scale 1:1,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C.; 1951 (27.0" x 30.0)

82.09 Phillippines ( C 43 / C 44) published by the U. S. Army Map Service, Washington, D.C. , 1944, scale 1: 1,000,000, (20.1" x 36.5") ***SOLD***

82.10 Wei River / Omei Mountain, China; ( C 384 / C 495) published by the U. S. Army Map Service, Washington, D.C. , 1944, scale 1: 1,000,000, (20.5" x 26.1") $120.

82.11 Central China / Himalayas (CL304/305), scale 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C., August 1951 (28.0" x 30.0")

82.12 East Siberian Sea/Kara Sea, (CL 104 / 105), scale 1:1,000,000; published by the USAF Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C.; 1950, (27.0" x 30.0")

82.13 CBI Far East, published by the British Royal Air Force (RAF), ( 44 N/ O), 1944, for the British Intelligence Service. This rare copy is in excellent condition. Measures ( 33.1" x 40.0) $300.

82.14 Mindanao Is./North Borneo, (C43 / 44), scale 1:1,000,000; published by the Army Air Force (AAF), Washington, D.C.; July 1944; (19.0" x 26.7") $70

82.15 Alps/Black Sea, (CL 200 / 201), scale: 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Charts Service, Washington, D.C.; August 1951; (37.0" x 39.0")

82.16 CBI Far East, published by the British Royal Air Force (RAF), ( 44 R/S), 1944.
This sheet is one of three sheets in this series. It had a low printing number (5,000 cys) and it is in pristine condition. $400.

82.17 CBI Far East, published by the British Royal Air Force (RAF), ( 44 V/W), 1944.
This sheet is one of three sheets in this series. It had a low printing number (5,000 cys) and it is in pristine condition. $400.

82.18 Alaska (Star Chart included), [CL 54 / 55]; scale 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C.; October 1949; printed by the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey; (35.0" x 35.0") ***SOLD***

82.19 Khatanga River / Obskaya, USSR (CL102/103), scale 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C.; March 1951 (41.0" x 36.0")

82.20 Yangtze River / Honshu (CL306/307), scale 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C.; May 1951 (41.0" x 38.0"); some staining outside the neatline with tape marks top left/right outside neatline. Appears to have been used as a planning map.

82.21 Gulf of Tartary / Kamchatka Peninsula, USSR (CL206/207), scale 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C.; July 1950 (29.0" x 38.0")

82.22 Niger River / Tibesti, including the Sudan (CL401/402), scale 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C.; June 1950 (34.50" x 39.20") ***SOLD***

82.23 Markran / Kandahar , published by the British War Office, 1^st edition, 1957. The map is at a scale of 1:1,000,000 and was part of the Geographical Section General Staff issues. ***SOLD***

82.24 Arctic Ocean/Kara Sea, (CL 98 / 99); scale 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C.; July 1950, [includes a star chart at bottom]; (29.0" x 38.0")

82.25 Kabul / Samarqand, published by the British War Office and Air Ministry, 1^st edition, 1958. Published at a scale of 1:1,000,000 the map was prepared by the D. Survey and printed by Balding & Mansell, Ltd. ***SOLD***

82.26 Mongolia / Northeast China (CL204/205), scale 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C.; December 1950 (42.0" x 35.50")

82.27 Gulf of Bothnia / White Sea, USSR (CL100/101), scale 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C.; January 1950 (39.50" x 39.0")

82.28 Gulf of Aden / Red Sea, USSR (CL402/403), scale 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C.; March 1951 (39.50" x 35.0") ***SOLD***

82.29 Southern Greenland, (CL 109 / 110); scale 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C.; 1951; (38.5" x 39.0")

82.30 Ural River / Lake Balkhash, USSR (CL202/203), scale 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C.; February 1951 (39.0" x 38.0") ***SOLD***

82.34 Victoria Island/Foxe Basin, (CL 107 / 108); scale 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Charts Service, Washington, D.C.; 1951; (35.0" x 34.1") ***SOLD***

82.35 Eastern/Western Mediterranean, (CL 300 / 301); 1:2,000,000; published by the USAF, Aeronautical Chart Service, Washington, D.C.; Sept. 1950; (37.0" x 40.0"), printed by the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey ***SOLD***