Historic large unused ("new") double-sided silk pilots' escape and evasion maps from the 1940s and 1950s. Typical size is about 32 by 23 inches, some larger. Printed for the War Office and Air Ministry by Balding and Mansell Ltd. Printed on silk treated with pectin to preserve printing clarity, or on synthetic silk-like material, these maps were unaffected by water and silent to use.
Originally developed in WW2, with a scale of 1:1,000,000 these are typically double-sided maps, very detailed, covering a large area, with hundreds of places named. Special forces, air crews, etc. would have used such maps. These maps are the originals from WWII and the Korean War and are unused, straight from the military warehouses. With strong bold colors, sometimes with very light edge fraying or a small light fold crease.
These collectors' items are ideal for framing, use as scarves, etc. Limited stock items and new supply not possible - these are gone when we sell out.
These are all Korean War/Cold War era maps, dated typically 1951-1959. We are out of all WWII silk maps.
Sample 1
Sample 2
Sample 3