South America Wall Map - Published 1950 by National Geographic

Size: 738 × 1026 mm | Scale: 1:8,000,000 | Published: 1950 | Made in Australia

🌍 South America at the Dawn of the Jet Age

Step back to October 1950, when National Geographic unveiled this richly detailed political and physical map of South America—a continent on the cusp of transformative change. Accompanying three major feature articles, including the evocative "Peru, Homeland of the Warlike Inca", this edition marked a milestone in the Society’s cartography: it was the first map of the continent to depict airports, signalling the arrival of a new era in aviation and connectivity.

Beyond the skies, the map captures a South America where roads and railways were expanding, with new routes under construction linking distant regions for the first time. This was a moment when ancient cultures, colonial legacies, and modern ambitions intertwined—perfectly reflected in the careful artistry and accuracy of National Geographic’s mid-century cartographers.

📐 Cartographic Highlights

• First Appearance of Airports – A pioneering inclusion, marking the continent’s growing air infrastructure.

• Transport in Transition – Railways, major roads, and routes under construction meticulously marked.

• Physical & Political Clarity – Countries in distinct colours with clear international borders.

• Inset Details – Geographic insets offering deeper context to key areas.

• Classic 1950 National Geographic Styling – Rich colouration and detailed relief shading.

🖌 Premium Print & Display Options

Note: Please allow up to 10 working days for delivery of hang-railed maps, as each is professionally mounted by our framer.

🎯 Ideal For

• Collectors – Own an authentic reproduction of a pivotal 20th-century National Geographic map.

• Aviation Enthusiasts – See the continent at the birth of its commercial air travel era.

• Educators & Historians – A resource for teaching the political, cultural, and infrastructural history of South America.

• Decorators – A striking centrepiece for libraries, studies, offices, or travel-inspired spaces.

🌟 Why Choose This Map?

• Historic Significance – First South America map to feature airports, capturing a moment of global connectivity.

• Meticulous Detail – Every route, border, and topographical feature rendered with precision.

• Enduring Quality – Printed in Australia to professional archival standards.

• Display Versatility – Available in paper, laminated, and premium canvas formats.

Bring the South America of 1950 into your home, office, or classroom—a continent poised between its storied past and a rapidly modernising future. This National Geographic original blends artistry, geography, and history into one unforgettable wall map.

📍 Order yours today and own a museum-quality reproduction of one of National Geographic’s most historically significant South American maps.