The Piece
1939 city map of Portland, Oregon.
Published in Collier’s World Atlas and Gazetteer.
Offset lithograph on paper, presented in an antique wood frame.
Printed credit visible; map title and publisher legible.
Primary Description
This piece presents a detailed street and infrastructure map of Portland, Oregon, centered on the Willamette River and extending to the Columbia River at the upper margin. Dense street grids, bridges, rail lines, and industrial zones are rendered with fine black linework, emphasizing connectivity and urban growth.
The map is surrounded by a wide mat and housed in a substantial antique wood frame, whose profile and finish add physical weight without obscuring the printed image. The framing enlarges the visual presence of the map, allowing the dense cartography to remain legible while giving the object architectural presence.
Historical Context
In the late 1930s, American periodicals frequently published city maps to accompany articles on commerce, transportation, and regional development. Portland, as a major river and rail hub in the Pacific Northwest, was often highlighted for its strategic position between inland industry and coastal trade.
Maps such as this one were intended as informational tools rather than decorative objects. Their survival, especially when later framed, reflects a shift in how printed ephemera came to be valued as historical records of urban form and growth.
Product Details / Materials & Presentation
→ Medium: Offset lithograph on paper
→ Publication: Collier’s World Atlas and Gazetteer
→ Date: 1939
→ Subject: Portland, Oregon and surrounding river systems
→ Frame: Antique wood frame with broad profile; likely earlier or contemporaneous to mid-20th-century presentation
→ Mat: Neutral mat, later addition
Condition + Updates
Overall condition is stable.
The paper shows light age toning consistent with 1930s publication. No significant losses to the printed image were observed. The antique frame shows surface wear and patina consistent with age. No restoration or reframing has been performed.
Why It Belongs in Your Home
This piece works well in studies, libraries, offices, or transitional spaces where graphic density and historical content are welcome. The antique frame gives the map a sense of permanence, allowing it to function as both a reference object and a visual anchor.
Its appeal lies in structure and information rather than color, making it adaptable across a range of interiors without becoming decorative filler.
From Viridian Eclection
Viridian Eclection presents historical objects with clarity and restraint. Each piece is offered with respect for its original purpose and later life, without rewriting or exaggeration.
