The Piece

This is an original 1939 Collier’s World Atlas and Gazetteer map of Central Seattle, beautifully preserved and presented in a custom antique giltwood frame with archival matting. Titled simply “Map of Central Seattle,” this richly detailed print offers a fascinating historical snapshot of Seattle at a turning point—on the cusp of wartime industrial expansion and just prior to the explosive growth of the mid-century Pacific Northwest.

Produced by the renowned P.F. Collier & Son Corporation, known for their fine atlases and encyclopedic publications in the early 20th century, this map was published during the New Deal era, capturing Seattle’s infrastructure as it stood in a transformative moment between Depression-era recovery and WWII-fueled modernization.

Engraved in high detail, the map charts Seattle’s downtown core, port infrastructure, street grid, and industrial zones, including the bustling Elliott Bay piers, Lake Union, Union Bay, and major road and rail lines. Over 100 steamship lines are noted as connecting Seattle to Asiatic, European, and South American ports—a testament to its rising status as a global shipping hub.

The map was originally produced courtesy of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, emphasizing its civic and commercial pride. It retains an academic, civic tone that makes it ideal for both cartographic and urban history collectors.

Design & Construction

→ Original map plate from Collier’s World Atlas and Gazetteer, c. 1939
→ Title: “Map of Central Seattle, The Chief City of Washington and Industrial Center of the Pacific Northwest”
→ Print reference: Page 306
→ Black ink on fine mid-century rag paper
→ Published by P.F. Collier & Son, New York
→ Marked: Courtesy of Seattle Chamber of Commerce
→ Archival float mount in ivory bevel-cut mat with conservation corners (untrimmed)
→ Set in carved, gold-leafed hardwood frame with period-consistent proportions
→ Glazed with UV-protective acrylic for preservation

Historical Context

In 1939, Seattle stood at the crossroads of maritime might and industrial ambition. With the rise of Boeing, port expansions, and international shipping routes, the city was evolving from a regional outpost into a major player on the Pacific Rim. This map captures the layout of pre-WWII Seattle, before the interstate system, before suburban sprawl, and before the Space Needle—a record of the city’s dense street network and commercial waterfront when shipping lines still dominated the skyline.

Collier’s atlases, published throughout the 1930s and 1940s, are revered for their meticulous cartography and clarity, and are commonly found in the collections of historical societies, libraries, and private map collectors.

Maps from this era often served civic as well as navigational purposes, and this edition—emphasizing Seattle’s “over 100 steamship lines”—demonstrates how maps also acted as tools of urban branding and international connectivity.

Condition

Excellent vintage condition.
Original map shows light natural toning consistent with its age, with no major foxing, staining, or tears. The paper is stable and retains crisp linework and fine legibility. Archival matting and UV-protective acrylic glazing ensure long-term preservation. The frame is a hand-finished period-style giltwood with mild wear, enhancing its historic charm.

Why It Belongs in Your Collection

This framed 1939 map is more than a visual of old Seattle—it’s a portal into the city’s industrial ascendancy and a relic of Depression-era optimism and civic pride. Whether you're a cartographic enthusiast, Seattle native, or collector of pre-war Americana, this piece offers unmatched narrative density in a finely crafted and ready-to-hang format.

Its detailed, diagrammatic design invites long contemplation. Its craftsmanship and framing present it as a museum-worthy document of place, progress, and permanence.

Details

→ Origin: Collier’s World Atlas and Gazetteer, 1939
→ Publisher: P.F. Collier & Son, New York
→ Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
→ Paper: Original rag stock map leaf (not reproduction)
→ Framing: Antique-style giltwood frame with archival mat
→ Map Dimensions: Approx. 10" x 13" visible
→ Frame Dimensions: Approx. 18" x 22"
→ Style: Pre-WWII Americana / Cartographic / Industrial History
→ Function: Display map, historical document, collector's artifact