1946 London, The Bastion of Liberty
the Vintage Map Shop, Inc.
Regular price $65.00
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By: Kerry Lee
Original Date: 1946 (Published) London
Size of Original: 38.25 x 48.25 inches (96 x 121 cm)
This is a fine print reproduction of a most joyous and celebratory map of London, by Kerry Lee, published by the Travel Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland almost immediately following the end of World War II.
The map was published as a reminder to the people of London and around the world of their history and culture. The city had just been through several years of hardship including “the Blitz,” a German bombing raid that occurred at the beginning of the war in 1940-41. Numerous sites around the city were left in rubble and many sons, fathers, and brothers of London were lost during the war. The map features a 1946 quote by William Churchill that reads “We would rather see London in ruins and ashes than that it should be tamely and abjectly enslaved.”
The map is presented in a pictorial style with any and all important buildings and landmarks shown in an oversized manner. Despite the varying sizes of buildings, the map adheres to proper geographic necessities with consistent color patterns and the overall layout of the city shown with accuracy. Surrounding the map are numerous destinations throughout the city and surrounding area, some of which include Alexandra Palace, Wembly sports stadium, B.O.A.C. airlines at the London Airport, Wimbledon, Greenwich, and Epping Forest to name a few.
There are two versions of this map, with this example being the larger of the two. It is roughly four times scarcer than the smaller copy, produced a year later in 1947.
Inventory #11067