1961 Map of Outer Space
The Vintage Map Shop, Inc.
Regular price $45.00
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By: Russell Ross & Philip LaSalle
Date of Original: July 9, 1961 (dated) Philadelphia, PA
Original Size: 21 x 28 inches
This is a fine print reproduction of an imaginative mid-century illustration of Outer Space that appeared in the Rotocomics section of The Philadelphia Inquirer on July 9, 1961. Created at the dawn of the Space Age, the large double-page spread presents a vivid interpretation of the solar system as it was popularly understood, combining factual planetary data with speculative visions of future exploration.
The artwork reflects how the public viewed the cosmos before the Moon landing, when much about the outer planets remained mysterious and the idea of living in orbit had only begun to enter mainstream thought. Each planet is labeled with brief notes on its distance from the Sun, orbital speed, and characteristics, all radiating around a bright yellow central Sun. Orbiting it are stylized spacecraft, including a “construction rocket,” “planet explorer,” and “space platform,” along with astronauts in red suits carrying out imagined tasks in space.
The illustration embodies the optimism that defined early space exploration, created at a moment when Project Mercury was still underway and President Kennedy had only recently set the nation’s sights on reaching the Moon. Its mix of comic-inspired color, futuristic rocket designs, and educational diagrams—including an “Interplanetary Weight Chart” and “Space Ship Time Schedule”—offered readers an engaging way to understand both the science and the imagination fueling America’s expanding view of the universe.
Inventory #13150