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Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 09:57:05 -0700
From: Brian Bach <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: 'Cartifactual Apparel' and associated subjects
Sender: Brian Bach <[log in to unmask]>


There seems to be quite an international array of cartographically-oriented garments and accessories to be found in the world.  In St Martin (Leeward Islands), I purchased a t-shirt with a buccaneer-era map on the back. Inside a building it appears as a monochrome print, but when exposed to sunshine it blooms into full colo(u)r through some miracle of t-shirt chemistry. Maps seem to be a reliable testing ground for consumer gimmicks, albeit on a small scale (sorry!). Maps are 'safe'; most people like them. They always inspire respect, and give a 'classy' look to whatever they adorn. At the very least, the marketer of the given item must surely be an appreciator of maps. Plus, no copyright problems if the map in question is antique. Speaking of which, I once saw a globe - about a meter in diameter, with an antique map surface, which opened up to become a portable wet bar. I've also seen globes in specialty gift shops made out of many different shades of marble. On the smaller, more expensive models, the ocean was represented by great expanses of vivid lapis lazuli. There are no tinting problems in Africa or the USA to be worked out on globes such as these!

In the erstwhile Viceroy's House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan) in New Delhi are some fine map murals by Percy Brown and Ghulam Husain from the 1920s, done in 16th and 17th century style, yet showing newly-established air routes from Delhi to London.

Brendan's reference to the stiff-upper-lip statement from the 'Tory Atlas of the World' : "Time zones. Not worth bothering about really. If the silly Dervishes in
Wogga Wogga want to take lunch at 4:30 in the morning, well it's up to
them" reminds me that an uncle of the writer Lytton Strachey lived his entire adult life according to Calcutta time, even though he resided in London. He believed that the only reliable chronometers in the world were to be found in the Bengali metropolis.

Apologies for babbling on, but the (finite) summer lassitude allows for some tiny indulgences.

- Brian

Brian P. Bach

Maps Specialist
Documents/Maps
Central Washington University Library
400 E. 8th Ave.
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7548
USA
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