This fascinating map, called NavWarMap No. 5, was published by the US Navy in 1944 as an educational and propaganda aid for training sailors and marines.
There are 6 maps in the series, each focusing on a different aspect or theatre of World War 2. This map, No. 5, focuses on the Southwest Pacific theatre, covering Australia in the south, Philippines and parts of Indonesia in the north, New Guinea in the middle, and Fiji in the east.
Big red and blue arrows show the movement of Japanese and Allied forces. In the bottom right are lovely portraits of 'the peoples of the Pacific' - Micronesians, Filipino, Melanesian, and Australian aborigine.
This map looks great at all sizes: 12x18 inches (31x46cm), 18x24 inches (45.5x61cm) and 24x36 inches (61x91.5cm), but it looks even better when printed large.
I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 205 inches (520cm). Please get in touch if you're looking for larger, customised or different framing options.
The model in the listing images is holding the 36x24 inch (91.5x61cm) version of this map.
Please note that at 12x18 inches (31x46cm) the writing is very small. The map is still very attractive, but you will struggle to read the smallest labels
The locations on this map include: Australia, Philippines, Fiji, Solomon Island, New Guinea and Loyalty Island. New Zealand is just about visible at the bottom. Many other islands and atolls are also nicely illustrated on this map.
This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving or housewarming gift for someone who has a keen interest in World War 2 or someone from the islands of Oceania and the South Pacific.
This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.