Cartoon map of BC highways
This illustrated map was published by The Vancouver Sun in celebration of Vancouver’s Golden Jubilee (1856-1936). Its cartoon-style illustrations were drawn by Peter Hugh Page, who strategically placed people and animals throughout his map of British Columbia’s highways in order to depict cities and interesting landmarks. His brilliantly coloured lithography is at its best in the legend portion of the map, in which key legend elements such as mountains are juxtaposed with “molehills” and white bears are described as “Black Bears gone White with Worry.” The map even has a step-by-step “How to Read This Map” section.
The popularity of decorative mapmaking in the late 19th and early 20th century allowed artists and publishers to use humorous caricatures. These cartoons helped to highlight travel locations and promote local enterprises, as illustrated by the slogan “Wherever you go in British Columbia use Home Gas – You can Buy no Better.”