Rare polar-projection world map published shortly after the U.S. entry into WWII. Colour is used to identify the combatants with the Allies in orange and the Axis in black.

This map was published as a supplement to Fortune, a magazine aimed at instilling internationalist values in the U.S. business community. Richard Edes Harrison, the author of the map, was one of the most successful cartographic artists during the war, a period during which interest in maps and cartography skyrocketed amongst the U.S. public.

Harrison's unusual polar-projection was intended to defy traditional Mercator projection world maps which were steadily going out of fashion as long-distance aviation became more common. Flight paths could not be easily charted on Mercator-projection maps, and alternative projections were being explored.

Traditional Mercator-projection maps had also given the U.S. public a false sense of security that they were protected from the wars of Europe by two large oceans. Harrison's map sought to disabuse Americans of this notion by showing them how close Russia and Europe are via air route.

Laid down on archival linen. Printed colour. [WLD4362]