WELCOME 1950's Pennsylvania State Road Maps BOTTOM

The early 1950's covers were among the most attractive issued.


1950 Here is a cover with a proclamation from the Governor stating what a superb job he is doing.
1951 If Governor Fine's administration did nothing else, it issued road maps from 1951 to 1954 with very nice cover designs. This is a drawing of the state seal with the motto: Virtue, Liberty, and Independence. A better job could have been done on the bird.
1952 This cover, and the one for 1953, appear to have the same artist as the 1949 cover.
1953 Again, a very nice cover design.
1954 And another one. This is a drawing of the state flag. The flags of all the states and territories line the grand walkway approaching Mount Rushmore. The Map Image shows the 'state' of state cartography.
1955 As of 2003, George Leader is the oldest living governor and in his eighties. He became a very successful operator of nursing homes after leaving the governorship. This is the last cover with the colonial pitchman.
1956 This map commemorated the 250th anniversary of Ben Franklin's birth, 1706.
1957 This 1957 map is dated 1956 and is otherwise identical to that map except for the cover design.
1958 The state (unfortunately) began a period of ugly sideways covers with this map. It also is the first cover to use a photo.
1959 The photos used on map covers were routinely awful. David Lawrence controlled the Democratic political machine in Pittsburgh and used it to vault into the governorship during a period of Philadelphia political weakness. He is credited (by some) with initiating the Pittsburgh cleanup of the 50's.
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1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's

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Copyright 2000-2008 by Harold Cramer. All rights reserved.
Last revised: December 17, 2007.