National Geographic Society Maps
Some of the most popular collectible maps are those issued as supplements to National Geographic Magazine. Not only are these maps widely accessible, making it easy to start a collection, they are also universally recognized as outstanding examples of the cartographer’s art.
The National Geographic Society, established in 1888 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., has always been known for the fine maps in its publications, although in its early years, the Society didn’t actually make its own maps; it distributed maps published by government agencies or other map makers. In 1915 the Society formed a map department and ever since has been producing and distributing its own maps. Today it prints millions of copies of each of its maps.
Through about 1920 the maps were lightly glued inside the front cover of the magazine and disbound copies may show traces of this glue. Since that time, the maps have simply been inserted into the magazine.
From the beginning the Society has dated its maps, usually with the month and year of issue, but sometimes with the year alone. In a few cases, the date on the map is different from the date on the magazine. Through the 1942 map of the Pacific Ocean, the maps were folded inside-out, with the blank side showing; consequently, it’s not uncommon to find these earlier maps refolded incorrectly with the printed side out. This misfolding is one type of damage to watch for when adding these maps to your collection. Another type is paper separation along the folds, especially in the earlier maps, which were printed on a thinner paper.
Since the 1960’s it has been standard to print on both sides of the paper, and text, artwork and photographs often accompany the maps. In a few cases, the magazine supplements are not maps at all, such as the June 1989 pictorial on dinosaurs or the September 1973 sheet on outer space. And in a few other cases, the Society has issued maps that were not included with the magazine. Examples include maps issued with various books the Society has published, maps offered for sale separately, such as the December 1960 map of the U.S.S.R., and maps such as the July 1944 large-format “Germany and Its Approaches – for use by War and Navy Department Agencies only; not for sale or distribution.”
You should generally be able to find copies of National Geographic Society maps in very good to excellent condition. Often, these maps have remained safely tucked inside the magazine and if they’ve been stored in a dry, bug-free environment, should be in fine shape. With care and patience, misfolded maps can be correctly refolded; it’s helpful to have an example on hand to use as a model. Even when these maps were removed from the magazine, they’re usually in reasonably good condition; these maps were typically not put to the same type of use (or abuse) as road and highway maps.
Generally, and not surprisingly, the older National Geographic Society maps are worth more than the newer ones. Far fewer were issued – and even fewer have survived. Values reflect this scarcity and a copy of the October 1898 “The Gold and Coal Fields of Alaska” would set you back at least $100, if you can find one. All of the other maps from the years 1892-1905 are also rare and will cost between $50 and $75 apiece.
Titles between 1906 and 1918 are also desirable and hard to find; retail prices may run between $10 and $25 apiece.
From 1921 onward the maps become noticeably more plentiful and prices will be lower – and tend to vary more widely from dealer to dealer. On average, titles from the 20’s and 30’s run $6 each; one exception is the April 1939 “Reaches of New York City,” which was displayed in the governor’s office on the TV show Benson and commands a bit more. Maps from the early 40’s usually can sell for $5 apiece, largely because of their tie-in with the Second World War. Another popular – and similarly priced – war map is the April 1961 “Battlefields of the Civil War.”
From the 50’s onwards, one map dealer may ask $3 for a given title and another one may only want a buck, but if you don’t mind poking through thrift shops, flea markets and garage sales, you can usually find these newer maps for 25 cents – or less – apiece, although there’s no guarantee you’ll locate the title you’re looking for. You can also contact the National Geographic Society itself; their current catalog lists for more than 60 of their most recent and best-selling maps – for $7.95 apiece plus shipping and handling.
Checklist of Supplemental Maps Issued by National Geographic Magazine
[Note: The date at left is the issue in which the map appeared; in a few cases the date actually printed on the map may be different. In its first half-dozen years the National Geographic Magazine was published on an “occasional” basis. (AP = Atlas Plate)
1889
Oct – Asheville District
1892
Mar 21 – Muir Glacier
Mar 31 – United States
1893
Apr 7 – Nuremburg Chronicle Map, 1493; Juan de la Cosa Map, 1500; Ruysch Map, 1508
1896
Jan – Russia in Europe
Feb – The Orinoco River
Mar – Submarine Cables of the World
Oct – Nansen Explorations
1898
Mar – The Gold and Coal Fields of Alaska
May – Cuba
1899
Jun – Theater of Military Operations in Luzon
Jul – Region Adjacent to the Nicaragua Canal Route
Aug – South Polar Regions
Nov – Vancouver’s Chart No. 1, Vancouver’s Chart No. 2
Dec – Seat of War in Africa
1900
Jan – Philippine Islands as the Geographical Center of the Far East
Sep – Northeastern China
1902
Jan – The Philippines (Two maps)
1903
Feb – Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean for February 1903
1904
Jan – Alaskan Boundary Decision
Mar – War Map of Manchuria and Korea
May – Alaska
1905
Feb – Cart of the World on Mercator’s Projection
Jun – Seat of War in Manchuria
Aug – Philippine Islands
Oct – Region of the Panama Canal
1906
Jun – Co-tidal Lines for the World
Oct – Cuba
1907
Jul – The North Pole Regions
1909
Mar – Africa
1911
May – Mexico
1912
Jan – Countries Bordering the Mediterranean Sea
Feb – Bird’s Eye View of the Panama Canal
Oct – China and Its Territories
1913
Feb – Central America, Cuba, Porto Rico & the Islands of the Caribbean Sea
1914
Feb – Alaska
May – Mexico
Aug – New Balkan States and Central Europe
1915
Jul – Europe and Adjoining Portions of Africa & Asia
1916
Jul – Mexico
1918
May – Western Theatre of War
Dec – The Races of Europe and Adjoining Portions of Asia and Africa
1921
Feb – Europe Showing Countries as Established by the Peace Conference
May – Asia and Adjoining Europe with a portion of Africa
Oct – South America
Dec – Sovreignty and Mandate Boundary Lines in 1921 of Islands of the Pacific
1922
Feb – The Countries of the Caribbean, including Mexico & Central America
Oct – Africa and Adjoining Portions of Europe & Asia
Dec – The World
1923
Apr – United States of America
1924
May – North America
1925
Nov – The Arctic Regions
1926
Sep – N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Georgia and Eastern Tennessee
1927
Feb – Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia
1929
Dec – Europe and the Near east
1930
Jan – Florida
Apr – Louisiana
1931
May – Illinois
1932
Jan – A Map of the Travels of George Washington
Oct – The Antarctic Regions
Dec – The World
1933
May – The United States and Adjoining Portions of Canada and Mexico
Nov – Greater New York
Dec – Asia and Adjacent Regions
1934
Dec – Mexico, Central America and the West Indies
1935
Jun – Africa
Dec – The World (Two Hemispheres)
1936
Jun – Canada
Dec – Pacific Ocean
1937
Jun – Modern Pilgrim’s Map of the British Isles
Jul – The White Mountains of New Hampshire
Dec – South America
1938
Apr – The Reaches of New York City
Jul – Historic and Scenic Reaches of the Nation’s Capital
Dec – Bible Lands and the cradle of Civilization
1939
Apr – The Reaches of New York City
Jul – Atlantic Ocean
Oct – Central Europe and the Mediterranean
Dec – Mexico, Central America and the West Indies
1940
Mar – Classical Lands of the Mediterranean
May – Europe and the Near East
Jun – The Southwestern United States
Dec – The United States and Adjoining Portions of Canada and Mexico
1941
Mar – Indian Ocean Including Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia
Jun – Northwestern United States and Neighboring Canadian Provinces
Sep – Atlantic Ocean
Dec – The World
1942
Feb – Theater of War in the Pacific Ocean
May – North America
Jul – Theater of the War in Europe, Africa and Western Asia
Oct – South America
Dec – Asia and Adjacent Areas
1943
Feb – Africa
Apr – Northern and Southern Hemispheres
Jun – Europe and the Near East
Sep – Pacific Ocean and the Bay of Bengal
Dec – The World Map
1944
Apr – Japan and the Adjacent Regions of Asia and the Pacific Ocean
Jul – Germany and Its Approaches
Oct – Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands from the Indies to the Solomons
Dec – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
1945
Mar – The Philippines
Jun – China
Sep – Northeastern United States
Dec – Japan and Korea
1946
Feb – Northern Hemisphere
Apr – India and Burma
Jul – United States of America
Dec – Bible Lands and the Cradle of Western Civilization
1947
Feb – Southeastern United States
Jun – Canada, Alaska & Greenland
Oct – Countries of the Caribbean Including Mexico, Central America & the West Indies
Dec – South Central United States
1948
Mar – Australia
Sep – A Pocket Map of Washington, D.C.
Dec – Southwestern United States
1949
Jun – Europe and the Near East
Oct – The Top of the World
Dec – Classical Lands of the Mediterranean
1950
Mar – Africa and the Arabian Peninsula
Jun – Northwestern United States and Neighboring Canadian Provinces
Oct – South America
Dec – Western Europe
1951
Mar – Asia and Adjacent Areas
Jun – United States of America
Sep – Central Europe Including the Balkan States
Dec – The World
1952
Mar – North America
Jun – Southwest Asia: India, Pakistan and Northeast Africa
Sep – The Far East
Dec – Pacific Ocean
1953
Mar – Mexico and Central America
Jun – Historical Map of the Unites States
Oct – China Coast and Korea
Dec – Great Lakes Region of the United States and Canada
1954
Mar – West Indies
Jun – A Map of California
Aug – Northern Europe
Dec – Northern Africa
1955
Mar – Eastern South America
Jun – New England
Sep – Southeast Asia
Dec – Atlantic Ocean
1956
Apr – Round About the Nation’s Capital
Jun – Alaska
Sep – The United States
1957
Mar – The World
Jun – Europe
Sep – Antarctica
Dec – The Heavens / Star Charts
1958
Jan – Southeastern United States (Atlas Series)
Mar – Southern South America (Atlas Series)
May – National Parks, Monuments and Shrines of the Unites States and Canada
Jul – British Isles (AP 31)
Sep – Poland and Czechoslovakia (AP 38)
Nov – North Central United States (AP 9)
Dec – Greece and the Aegean (AP 40)
1959
Jan – Lands of the Eastern Mediterranean (AP 47)
Apr – NE United States (AP 6)
Jun – Germany (AP 35)
Jul – State of Alaska (AP 18)
Sep – Western Soviet Union (AP 45)
Nov – Southwestern United States (AP 12)
Dec – Asia and Adjacent Areas (AP 44)
1960
Feb – South America (AP 25)
Apr – Northwestern United States (AP 11)
Jun – France, Belgium and the Netherlands (AP 32)
Jul – Hawaii (AP 15)
Sep – Africa (AP 54)
Nov – The World (AP 2)
Dec – Japan and Korea (AP 51)
1961
Feb – South Central United States (AP 10)
Apr – Battlefields of the Civil War (AP 14)
May – Southeast Asia (AP 49)
Jul – The United States (AP 5)
Oct – Mexico and Central America (AP 22)
Nov – Italy (AP 37)
Dec – Canada (AP 19)
1962
Feb – The Balkans (AP 39)
Apr – Pacific Ocean (AP 61) New Zealand, New Guinea & Pacific Islands
Jun – Europe (AP 30)
Aug – Washington to Boston (AP 7)
Sep – Eastern South America (AP 27)
Nov – Southern Africa (AP 57)
Dec – West Indies (AP 23)
1963
Feb – Antarctica (AP 65)
Apr – Scandinavia (AP 34)
May – Southwest Asia (AP 48)
Jul – Central Canada (AP 24)
Sep – Australia (AP 59)
Dec - Holy Land Today (AP 52)
1964
Feb – Northwestern South America (AP 26)
Apr – North America (AP 17)
May – Shakespeare’s Britain
Jul – Greater New York/ Tourist Manhattan (AP 15)
Nov – China (AP 50)
Dec – Suburban Washington/Tourist Washington (U.S. AP 21)
1965
Jan – Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Eastern Thailand
Feb – The World
Mar – Spain and Portugal (AP 33)
May – The Nile Valley: Land of the Pharaohs (AP 58)
Sep – Switzerland, Austria and Northern Italy (AP 36)/TeAlps
Nov – Top of the World (AP 3)
1966
May – Southern California (U.S. AP 69)/Northern California (Plate 68)
Jul – Vacationlands of the United States and Southern Canada
Aug – Northwestern Africa (AP 55)
Sep – Western Canada (AP 21)
1967
Feb – Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand
Mar – Eastern Soviet Union (AP 46)
May – Eastern Canada (AP 20)
Oct – Indian Ocean Floor
Dec – Lands of the Bible Today
1968
Feb – The United States
Jun – Atlantic Ocean Floor/ Atlantic Ocean (Atlas Plate 62)
Oct – Archeological Map of Middle America
Dec – Southeast Asia
1969
Feb – The Earth’s Moon
Jun – Europe
Oct – Pacific Ocean Floor/ Pacific Ocean
1970
Jan – West Indies and Central America
Jun – Traveler’s Map of Italy
Aug – Map of the Heavens, with Monthly Star Charts for Both Hemispheres
Dec – The World
1971
Mar – The Peoples of Mainland Southeast Asia/Asia
Jun – A Traveler’s map of France
Oct – Arctic Ocean Floor/ Arctic Ocean
Dec – 1971 The Peoples of Africa/Heritage of Africa
1972
Mar – Canada
Jul – A Cultural Map of the Middle East/Peoples of the Middle East
Oct – South America
Dec – Indians of North America
1973
Feb – The Red Planet: Mars
Mar – Close-up: U.S.A. The Northwest
May – Mexico/Central America
Aug – Close-up: U.S.A. Wisconsin, Michigan, and the Great Lakes
Sep – Teammates in Mankind’s Greatest Adventure Earth from Space [Not a map]
Nov – Close-up: U.S.A. Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
1974
Mar – Close-up: U.S.A. The North Central States
Apr – A Traveler’s Map of the British Isles
Jun – Close-up: U.S.A. California and Nevada
Oct – Close-up: U.S.A. The South Central States
Dec – Discoverers of the Pacific/ Islands of the Pacific
1975
Mar – Close-up: U.S.A. Maine, with the Maritime Provinces of Canada
Jun – Close-up: U.S.A. Alaska
Jul – Close-up: U.S.A. Western New England
Oct - Close-up: U.S.A. The Southeast
Nov – The Political World/ The Physical World
1976
Feb – Peoples of the Soviet Union/ Soviet Union
Apr - Close-up: U.S.A. Hawaii
Jul – Portrait U.S.A.? The United States
Oct - Close-up: U.S.A. The Mid-Atlantic States
Dec – Whales of the World/ The Great Whales: Migration and Range
1977
Feb – Close-up: U.S.A. Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky
May – Celtic Europe/Europe
Jul – Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States
Oct - Close-up: U.S.A. The Southwest
Dec – Colonization and Trade in the New World
1978
Jan - Close-up: U.S.A. The Northeast
Apr - Close-up: Canada British Columbia, Alberta and the Yukon Territory
Jul – The Heart of the Grand Canyon
Sep – Middle East/ Early Civilizations in the Middle East
Dec – Close-up: Canada Ontario
1979
Feb – Australia: Land of the Living Fossils/ Australia
May – Close-up: Canada Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories
Aug – Bird Migration in the Americas/ The Americas
Oct – Medieval England/ British Isles
1980
Feb – Africa: Its Political Development/ Africa
May – Close-up: Canada Quebec, Newfoundland
Jul – The Peoples of China/ The People’s Republic of China
Sep – Two Centuries of Conflict in the Middle East/ Mideast in Turmoil
Dec – Visitor’s Guide to the Aztec World/ Mexico and Central America
1981
Feb – Tourist Islands of the West Indies/ West Indies and Central America
Apr – Ireland and Northern Ireland: A Visitor’s Guide
Jul – The Solar System
Dec – The World/ World Ocean Floor
1982
Mar – Indians of South America
Apr – The Face and Faith of Poland
Sep – America’s Federal Lands/ The United States
Nov – The Making of America: The Southwest
Dec – The Historic Mediterranean/ the Mediterranean Seafloor
1983
Feb – Peoples of the Arctic/ Arctic Ocean
Mar – The Making of America: Atlantic Gateways
Jun – Journey into the Universe Through Time and Space/ Sky Survey
Aug – The Making of America: Deep South
Nov – The Making of America: Hawaii
Dec – History of Europe/ Europe
1984
Jan – The Making of America: Alaska
Apr – The Making of America: Far West
Jun – Japan
Aug – The Making of America: Central Rockies
Oct – A Traveler’s Map of Spain and Portugal
Dec – Peoples of South Asia/ South Asia with Afghanistan and Burma
1985
Feb – The Making of America: Northern Approaches
Apr – A Traveler’s Map of the Alps
Aug – The Shaping of a Continent: North America’s Active West
Sep – The Making of America: Central Plains
Nov – Canada’s Vacationlands
Dec – Making of America: Ohio Valley
1986
Mar – The Making of America: Texas
Apr – Central America Past and Present
Jul – History of the Philippines/ The Philippines
Aug – The Making of America: Pacific Northwest
Nov – Where Did Columbus Discover America?
Dec – The Making of America: Northern Plains
1987
Feb – The Making of America: New England
Apr – Pinnipeds Around the World/ Antarctica
Jul - The Making of America: Great Lakes
Sep – Territorial Growth of the United States/ The United States
Nov - The Making of America: West Indies
1988
Feb – A Traveler’s Look at Australia
Jun – The Making of America: Tidewater
Nov – Mount Everest
Dec – The World/ Endangered Earth
1989
Feb – Special Places of the World: Yellowstone and Grand Teton
Jun – The March Toward Extinction/ A new View of Dinosaurs [Not a map]
Jul – Historical France/ France
Oct – Land of the Maya
Nov – Asia-Pacific
Dec – Special Places of the World: Holy Land
1990
Jan – Atlantic Ocean/ Arctic Ocean (World Ocean Floors)
Mar – Soviet Union
Aug – Portraits of our Celestial Family/ The Solar System
Sep – Special Places of the World: New York City
Dec – Africa Threatened/ Africa
1991
Feb – States in Turmoil: The Middle East/ Middle East
Mar – The Making of Canada: Quebec
Jul – China
Sep – A Traveler’s Map of Germany/ Germany
Oct – Native American Heritage: a Visitor’s Guide
Dec – World War II: Europe and North Africa/ Asia and the Pacific
1992
Feb – Spain in the Americas
Apr – The Making of Canada: British Columbia
Jun – Pacific Ocean/ Indian Ocean (World Ocean Floors)
Aug – Amazonia: A World Resource at Risk/ South America
Oct – Southwest U.S.A.
Dec – The New Europe
1993
Jan – North America in the Age of Dinosaurs/ Dawn of the Delta
Mar – The Former Soviet Union
Jul – Coastal California
[Original article, published in September 1993, ends here.]
Oct – Making of Canada: Atlantic Canada
Nov – Water/ United States
1994
Feb – The Physical World/ The Political World
May – Alaska
Jul – Boston to Washington 1830/ Megaopolis
Sep – Traveler’s Map of Mexico/ Mexico
Dec – Making of Canada: Prairie Provinces
1995
Jan – Egypt’s Nile Valley – Delta/ Egypt’s Nile Valley – Upper Nile
Feb – Historical Italy/ Italy
Apr – Earth’s Fractured Surface/ Living on the Edge
Jul – Heart of the Rockies/ Above the Rockies
Sep – Hawaii
Dec – Star Birth in the Orion Nebula/ The Heavens
1996
Feb – Exploring Indonesia/ Indonesia
Apr – Old City: Jerusalem/ Jerusalem
Jun – Making of Canada: Ontario
Oct – Federal Lands in the Fifty States/ Physical United States
Dec – The Mongols/ Mongol Khans
1997
Feb – Dawn of Humans/ Seeking Our Origins
May – South Asia with Afghanistan and Myanmar/ India
Jul – Romans/ The Roman Empire
Sep – Making of Canada: The North
Dec – The Mesoamerican/ Ancient Mesoamerica
1998
Feb – Millennium in Maps: Exploration/ The Explorers
May - Millennium in Maps: Physical Earth/ Physical Earth
Jul – Natural Hazards of North America/ Great Disasters
Oct - Millennium in Maps: Population
Dec – Traveler’s Map of Spain and Portugal
1999
Feb – Millennium in Maps: Biodiversity/ Diversity of Life
May – Caspian Sea/ Caspian Region
Aug – Millennium in Maps: Cultures/ Voices of the World
Oct – Millennium in Maps: Milky Way/ The Universe
Dec – The Greeks/ Ancient Greece
2000
Feb – The Balkans/ Plight of the Refugees
Jun – Traveler’s Map of Britain and Ireland/ The Heart of Tourist London
Jul – Australia: Under Siege/ Australia
Aug – Sydney/ Sydney Olympic Park
Sep – Western Migration/ The Pathfinders
Dec – Dawn of Humans: People of the Americas/ The Americas
2001
Feb – Mars Revealed/ Destination Mars
Apr – The Egyptians/ Ancient Egypt
Jul – Sunken Treasures/ Treasures of the World
Sep – Africa’s Natural Realms/ Africa Oggi
Dec – Afghanistan: Land in Crisis/ Afghanistan and Pakistan
2002
Feb – Antarctica: A New Age of Exploration
May – The Inca – Machu Picchu
Jun – Quest for Everest
Sep – World Transformed/ Thirsty Planet
Oct – Heart of the Middle East/ Crossroads of Faith and Conflict
2003
Mar – Traveler’s Map of the West Indies
May – Everest 50/ Sagarmatha National Park
Jul – Two Koreas/ the Forgotten War
Dec – 100 Years of Flight
2004
Apr – Bird Migration in the Eastern/ Western Hemispheres
Jun – The Making of the Mall/ Downtown Washington, D.C.
Jul – New Views of Our Sun/ Space Weather
Sep – North American Indian Culture/ Indian Country
Nov – World/ Earth at Night
2005
Apr – A Nation Transformed by Civil War/ Battles of the Civil War
Jun – Europe/ Europe in Transition
Sep – Africa, a Storied Landscape/ Africa: The Human Footprint
Dec – Sea Monsters of the Ancient Sea
2006
Apr – Earthquakes: Living with the Threat/ Earthquake Risk – A Global View
Jun – Soccer Unites the World/ The Beautiful Game
Oct – The United States – History of the Land
Dec – 8 Planets – The New Cosmic Order/ 19 Trillion Miles to Explore
2007
May – A World Transformed/ Jamestown
Aug – Mexico and Central America/ The Dividing Link
Oct – Changing Climate/ Greenhouse Earth
Dec – Planet of the Dinosaurs – Gondwana/ Laurasia
2008
May – China/ The Forbidden City
Aug – Iran/ The Empire of Persia
Dec – Crucible of History/ Jerusalem’s Holy Ground
2009
May – Arctic Ocean: The Unexpected Frontier
Jul – Southeast Asia/ Khmer Rouge
Oct – Giant Redwood/ Last of the Giants
2010
Apr – The World’s Fresh Water
Aug – Blue Holes of the Bahamas/ The Cascade Room
Oct – Gulf of Mexico/ Layers of Life
Nov – World/ Great Migrations
Dec – Barcelona’s Natural Wonder/ Design by Nature
2011
Mar – Face of Seven Billion/ World of Seven Billion
Nov – Africa’s Great Lakes/ The Great Rift Valley
2012
May – 1863: Turning Point of the Civil War/ From Civil War to Civil Rights
Sep – Beneath the Oceans/ Mauna Kea
2015
Nov – Amazonia
2016
May – In the Hot Zone: Yellowstone Below the Surface/ The Pulse of the Park: Yellowstone Elk
Migrations
Jun – A changing Pacific Coast/ Claiming British Columbia
Nov – Mars/ Colonizing Mars
Dec – Saving Unique Habitats/ Dreaming Green
See some of our National Geographic Maps for sale on our Nat Geo Page: https://www.newworldmaps.com/national-geograpic-maps
Charlie Neuschafer can be contacted at: New World Maps, Inc. PO Box 541389, Lake Worth, FL 33454 or at www.newworldmaps.com/contact.
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