National Geographic Map Index Variants

[George Thomas Wilson]

National Geographic Map Index Variants

A little less than four years ago I posted a discussion topic on Map Indices, specifically those published after Roger Nathan’s Collectors Guide.

https://ngscollectors.ning.com/group/map-and-suppliment-collectors/...

During the discussion that followed I was informed by Dale Murphy about variations to the covers, and sometimes the content, of many of the Indices. Here is a snippet from one of Dale’s comments in that discussion:

In addition I note that there were several variants of the map indexes produced. Between 1933 and 1943, 8 indexes were published with variations in the front page scroll that either read "25c" or "Washington". I suspect the latter were produced for the NGS map cabinets that the society regularly presented to leading political figures, of which I have one cabinet in my collection. In any case, I can confirm 4 of these "Washington" indexes that I have in my possession.

There were also three variations of the front page globe (colored or grey) in the 1950 South America, 1950 Western Europe and 1953 Mexico & Central America indexes. I have both variants of all issues and can confirm their existence.

Finally, it has been suggested to me that there were print variations relating to advertising on the back cover of the 1942 Asia [1] and 1944 USSR indexes [3] (I cannot confirm this as I only have one version of each of these, without advertising).

Up until the 1971 Asia index you mentioned, I therefore estimate that there were 114 unique indexes produced [i.e. 99+8+3+4] (or 113 discounting the 1940 Southwestern US index you mention) and would appreciate confirmation of the existence of those I don't have as detailed above.

Post-1971, I only have 2 indexes, both of which were produced as part of some other publication (e.g. the 1888-1988 NG Index). There was also an index produced for one of the 1960s-1970s NG globes, but I can't lay my hands on it at the moment.

It would be wonderful to produce a definitive list of all map indexes produced. To this end, I will list what I believe to exist in my next post (otherwise would exceed character numbers of current post).

Thanks again for a great post,

Dale Murphy

As you can see from Dale’s post, there are three flavors of variations to the Map Indices. Two are related to differences of the Covers and one related to differences in advertising content. The first of these types of variants I’d like to discuss are the colored vs. uncolored globes that appear on the cover of most of the Map Indices. The majority of the Indexes produced for each map have globes that colored a metallic gray. Apparently, however, during subsequent production runs of these Indexes a lower-quality version was produced. The inside pages are course and not glossy like the original Indexes (and the Magazines). The most obvious difference, however, are the globes on the front covers. They are traced outlines with no coloring. In his comment, Dale mentions three of these variants and I added four more. Recently I acquired three more (plus one from Dale’s original three). Also, Jeff Persons has informed me about another two,  This brings the total count to twelve (so far) and extends the timeframe for these variants to at least fifteen years. Here is a list of uncolored globe cover:

1939 Central Europe and the Mediterranean

1945 USSR

1949 British Isles

1949 Europe and the Near East

1950 Classic Lands of the Mediterranean (Map 1949)

1950 Africa and the Arabian Peninsula

1950 South America

1950 Western Europe

1951 World

1953 Mexico and Central America

1953 Historic Map of the US

1954 California

Here are images of the oldest and the newest of these Map Indices:

You will notice that on the 1939 Index, the globe is located at the top of the page. The globe was moved to the center of the page in late 1942 (Asia and Adjacent Areas).

While I have no definitive proof that these uncolored globe variants were produce for all of the Indices upon which globes appear (they discontinued the globes in 1961) it does appear likely that most of these Indexes have this variant out there. One last bit of trivia on this variant: the very first Map Index (May 1918, Western Theater of War) has an uncolored globe on it. I doubt that there ever was a metallic gray version.

Photo Courtesy of John Carey

The second variant I’d like to discuss is the advertising content on the last two pages of the 1942 Asia and Adjacent Areas and the 1945 USSR Indices. Apparently, there are variants to these two that have blank pages instead of the standard List of Publications. In addition, there is a third variant to the 1945 USSR Index. Instead of the usual List of Publications or the blank pages, this variation has pictures of books available from the Society.

I have added to these two map indexes, with three more Blank Page vs. List of Publication variations that were reported to me by Mel De Vilbiss, an active member here at the 'Corner.  Here is the current list of this second type of variant:

1938 Bible Lands

1939 Mexico and Central America

1940 USA and Adjacent Areas

1942 Asia and Adjacent Areas

1945 USSR

My gray-globed Index for 1945 USSR has the standard List of Publications but my 1942 Asia index has a blank last page. As part of my recent acquisition of Map Indices with uncolored globes, I now have one for 1945 USSR. Alas, it too has the List of Publications meaning there are at least four variants to this one Index.

The last type of variant I’ll touch on is the alternate text in the lower-right banner on the cover. While the banner to the left of the southern hemisphere (bottom) consistently reads “COPYRIGHT 19xx” where xx completes the year the Index was published. The banner to the right could either read “25c THE COPY” or “WASHINGTON, D.C.”. Dale listed eight such examples where an index has two versions of this kind. They include:

1934 Asia and Adjacent Areas

1942 North America

1942 South America

1942 Asia and Adjacent Areas

1943 Africa

1943 Northern and Southern Hemispheres

1943 Pacific and the Bay of Bengal

1943 World

A couple of notes here. First, the 1934 Asia and Adjacent Areas cover does not have a version with “WASHINGTON, D.C.”, instead the variant has the “25c” slanted to the left (a reverse italic). Second, the 1942 Asia and Adjacent Areas Index has the two variants and, as mentioned above, a version without the List of Publications giving it three variations to this one Index. As with the uncolored globes, there may be more of these types of variants yet to be documented.

At present, I am not actively searching for these variants like I am the uncolored globes. That being said, I have one copy of each of these eight Map Indexes. Four read “25c THE COPY” and the other four read “WASHINGTON, D.C.”. For what it’s worth, all eight of my uncolored globe Indexes read “WASHINGTON, D.C.”.

Tom Wilson

[Scott T. Shier]

I am very glad I discovered this (or was reminded of it) this discussion thread via Tom's pot yesterday w/ links to other discussions -- great work everyone !

2 questions:

1. whatever happened to Roger Nathan's 2000 "updated" book (or was it only an e-document?) ???? Who has it, was it lost, did he give it to someone...? I am asking because if it was not published in book form, I deplore the idea that all that extra work and information has been lost! (and on this note, if ONLY ONE person our there has it, we need to see about sharing it with other serious collector's, eg, making it available as an attached "Resource" here on the 'Corner, etc. It is criminal it if gets lost (or already has been). You figure if one person has it, it is easy to foresee their passing and their family or spouse simply deleting-or-chucking it.  --[if it is being --secretly-- "hoarded" by one person out there, that is not collegial]. 
2. I feel like I remember somewhere over the years here on 'Corner, that it has been ruminated upon, or actually verified, that, some of the re-issued Indices had updated "Place Names" qty.'s ? Do I imagine this? This would mean that even a re-issued/reprint Index would thus be a "variant" vis-a-vis the different qty. of Place Names indicated on the front cover......

           

                                 ~ Scott S.

[George Thomas Wilson]

Scott,

As to your first question, Mel is in a much better position to answer that since he was involved in the disposition of Jeff's collection.  In other words, I haven't a clue.

As to your second, Dale and I had a discussion somewhere about 2 rereleased indices he had: the 1958 Central Europe and the 1968 Classic Lands.  Both had the original maps from September 1951 and December 1949 respectively.  One has a different count of place names than its original but the other had the same number.  I had Dale check the internal name of the one with identical number to see if any names changed, and they had.  Dale and I then got into a disagreement whether they were reprints or revisions.

Sometime later, I was able to acquire these two rereleased indices from Richard when he was housecleaning his collection.  Here are the covers to the originals and rereleases:

 

[Scott T. Shier]

Interesting ---> the 2nd Classical Lands of the Mediterranean doesn't indicate and issue/date on its cover. 

When I was re-reading all of your guys' Indices discussions this past week, I noticed that one of the map supplements' Index had MORE place-names on its first Index iteration, then, the next 2 re-issues (revisions?) had LESS place-names --- seems kind of odd, no? It seems intuitive to say that w/ each "new" version, there would be more detail, more names, vis-a-vis increased knowledge with each increase in year or decade. 

Anyway. are you saying that Jeff Persons is the one who got the late Mr. Nathan's c.2000 update book and/or data? If so, I did not know that. 

     - - Scott 

[George Thomas Wilson]

The 2nd Classic Lands cover from the '60s, and all the indices of that era, have their copyright on the inside.  As for place names on maps, who can say; times change, priorities change, tastes change.

I thought you knew that Jeff was the holder of the sacred text.

[Scott T. Shier]

I wish our dear late Jeff had thought ahead and made some provisions for that not getting destroyed-lost-deleted, sigh. (Or, he did, and a someone has it and is keeping it secret -- if so, I know who it would be). 

Not long before he passed, and I wasn't getting responses to my communications with him, he was going to make arrangements for me to obtain his full run of School Bulletin ; complete 1919 - 1975 (he said he was missing but 1 issue!). 

I had so much wanted to get those so I could catalog and collate them and scan EVERY cover and post them here on the 'Corner (that's why he said he wanted me to get them -- I share things and he liked that, he said). 

How likely or easy would it be to ever get a full consecutive run of the School Bulletin now? (originally titled as "Geographic News Bulletin")

again, //sigh//

[Scott T. Shier]

ALSO:

If there was a difference in quantity of place-names, and/or any difference in the ads (or none) printed on the back  cover, then by definition, it IS a "revision", because it has been altered. If it was merely a reprint or a.k.a. re-issue, then there would be absolutely zero differences between them . . . as far as text, cover, etc. 

IF "names changed" -- then that ='s  "revised" 

...from the Webster-Merriam Dictionary --->

revision (past-tense verb; active noun)

noun

re·​vi·​sion ri-ˈvi-zhən 

Synonyms of revision

1

a

: an act of revising

b

: a result of revising : alteration

2

: a revised version

[George Thomas Wilson]

You're preaching to the choir, Scott.  The disagreement I had with Dale was that I was convinced that they were revisions, and he felt they were reprints.  My rational was the same as you just stated.  His reasoning was that the indices came with the old maps (the curse of revision maps).  I got obnoxious, as I often do, and he ended the discussion.

[Scott T. Shier]

LOL, okay. One (NG Cartographic Division) can take an "old" map any time they want and increase/decrease the place-names they want to ID & account for, in the said booklet Index ; there are always more locations on any map supplement than are indexed anyway. 

They re-issue myriad of the "Collector's Editions" on newsstands left-and-right. When they do, they simply place a by-line along the bottom perimeter, near to the ISBN bar code, that states: "Re-issue of a National Geographic Favorite"  ~ ~ ~ besides this comment NOTHING in the said edition has been changed, updated or altered. They do not even change the original Copyright Date or CIP data on the last inside credits page from the first publication release. 

Having said that, the "re-issues" by necessity do show a new "Display Until...." date on them, above-but-within the the ISBN block.

There have been several (off top of my head I can't state exact qty. even though I have been the one documenting and posting all of these things here on the 'Corner) "revised updates" and/or "updated edition" of Collector's Editions . . . but -- this has always been clearly indicated on the front covers, usually in the form of an upper corner tag or text blurb. 

As for the books ---> when they do a 2nd or 3rd reprinting (w/ qty. copies indicated), they always showed that on the pre-2000's book publications on the credits page. Occasionally, it would show something like "3rd printing; "X-copies"; Revised edition" whereas the prior read as: "2nd printing; "X-copies"

-- Scott