Whimsical map of an imaginary fairy-tale kingdom by Czech-born artist Jaro Hess. Peter Pan, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Cinderella are amongst the characters featured. First published during the Great Depression, this map was intended to entertain the children of Grand Rapids, Michigan, but it quickly gained fame after it was exhibited in the children's section of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. This is the first edition of this map, published by Hess himself in 1930. Given that this map was intended to be displayed in the home for children, many of the original copies were damaged, discarded, or lost over time.

In the 1940s, Hess sold the copyright of The Land of Make Believe to J&R Enterprises who printed further editions into the 1950s and '60s. Those later editions do not feature Hess's name and he did not benefit from the incredible popularity of the poster, which found its way onto bedrooms and schoolrooms across the country.

Printed colour. Framed. [WLD4949]