Great Circle Airways by Richard Edes Harrison. Geostrategic persuasive map 1943
£160
SKU
'Great Circle Airways - A Fortune Map'
The explanation of the map opens with a fundamental truth: "The beginning of wisdom in cartography is the realization that all maps without exception are distorted." Richard Edes Harrison’s purpose for his May 1943 north-polar gnomonic map, Great Circle Airways, was to challenge the American public’s sense of security, shaped—indeed distorted—by the traditional and commonly seen Mercator projection, and to deliver an urgent message about potential vulnerability during wartime. The Mercator projection world map depicts North America as isolated and shielded by the vast Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, reinforcing an illusion of distance and safety from European and Asian conflicts. A "great circle" is the shortest distance between two points on a globe. On Harrison's gnomonic projection, all great-circle routes appear as straight lines, displaying the most direct paths. Centered on the North Pole, Harrison’s projection reveals that the shortest routes between North America and Eurasia—the flight paths of aircraft in the age of aviation—span the Arctic, underscoring the true proximity of these continents. This visualization highlighted the U.S.'s potential vulnerability to northern air attacks, a critical message in 1943 as air power began to reshape global warfare. Harrison’s map reshaped American perceptions of global proximity, demonstrating that modern warfare could bypass the perceived security of oceans, making the Arctic central to both defense and strategic planning. Within a few years, Harrison’s insights became increasingly evident with the onset of the Cold War, the nuclear bomb, the long-range bomber, and, later, the ballistic missile.
Size 50 x 61 cm | 19.5 x 24.0 inches
Date Published: May 1943
Type: Vintage colour persuasive map
Author: Harrison, Richard Edes
Publication: Fortune Magazine
Condition: Good |
Delivery & Returns
Packing
Items smaller than A4 size are usually packed in a stiffened, board-backed envelope. Larger items are rolled and packed in postal tubes. Large items which are too stiff to be rolled in wide-diameter tubes are mailed in all-board envelopes. In the unlikely event of damage in transit, please send the affected item or items back to us and we will provide a replacement or refund.
Delivery
Economy, tracked and express shipping options are available to all destinations worldwide. Over half our orders are sent to customers outside the United Kingdom and we have supplied over 30,000 buyers in over 70 different countries. We ship orders virtually every business day to customers in North America and Europe. The cost of delivery depends on the size of the largest item in your order, where you are located, and the delivery method that you choose at checkout. For orders received before 2pm, we can arrange delivery next day in the UK, within 2 business days to continental Europe and North America, and within 4 days to most other countries worldwide (excludes PO Box or APO/FPO (Military) addresses).
Returns
We accept returns for any reason if sent back to us within 14 days of receipt of your order. If any of your items are not as described, we will provide a full refund including reasonable return postage costs upon safe return to us. If you have changed your mind, you are responsible for the cost of returning the item to us. We describe the size, age and condition of all our products as fully and accurately as possible. Most of the items which we sell are in very good condition. However, the condition of antique and vintage prints and maps can vary. All of our product listings including a statement which classifies the condition as being either “Good”, “Fair”, or (rarely) “Poor” and which describes any material flaws, blemishes, imperfections or other significant features such as folds. Please read the description carefully before purchase.
Can we help? For more details or any questions.