1926 A Child’s Map of the Ancient World
The Vintage Map Shop
Regular price $50.00
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By: Alice York
Date of Original: 1926 (dated) New York
Original Size 25 x 34 inches
This is a fine print reproduction of an educational pictorial map titled “A Child’s Map of the Ancient World,” created by Alice York and published in 1926 by The John Day Company, Inc. Designed to both instruct and delight, it presents the civilizations of antiquity through vivid illustration and clear visual storytelling.
Centered on the Mediterranean and extending across Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, the map highlights the great empires of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Persia using bold color blocks, simplified imagery, and playful iconography. Warm ochre landmasses and bright blue seas frame countless miniature scenes, ranging from Hannibal’s crossing of the Alps to the spread of early Christianity, transforming history into a lively panorama.
An illustrated border serves as both decoration and timeline, featuring rows of ancient rulers, deities, and philosophers, including Ra, Moses, Confucius, and Julius Caesar. Mythic figures like Heracles and Athena appear beside historical leaders such as Alexander the Great and Caesar Augustus, blending history and legend in a way that inspired imagination and curiosity in young learners.
Reflecting the early twentieth century’s enthusiasm for visual education, York’s 1926 map combines artistic charm with pedagogical purpose. It remains both a collectible work of pictorial cartography and a remarkable example of how historical learning was brought to life for children nearly a century ago.
Inventory #12965