{"product_id":"old-pictorial-map-of-iraq-by-rifaat-1956-baghdad-basra-mosul-kirkuk-oilfields-ctesiphon-arch","title":"Old Pictorial Map of Iraq by Rifaat, 1956: Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Kirkuk oilfields, Ctesiphon Arch","description":"\u003cp\u003eA lyrical portrait of a nation at mid-century, the Illustrated Map of Iraq (1956) by A. Karim Rifaat marries cartographic precision with exuberant pictorial art. Commissioned by the Baghdad Survey Press under the Development Board and Ministry of Development, it renders the whole of Iraq—framed by Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Saudi Arabia—in a vivid tapestry of landmarks, lifeways, and landscapes. Dual-language labeling in Arabic and English makes the country legible to both domestic and international audiences, while colorful vignettes spotlight ancient ruins, holy cities, fertile river plains, and mountain retreats. The result is a confident national panorama: a map that informs as it delights, presenting Iraq’s geography and character through a modern lens without losing sight of its deep historical roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistorically, this map captures Iraq during a powerful moment of self-definition. Following independence in 1932 and amid continued British influence, the 1950-founded Development Board sought to harness oil revenues and modern planning to transform infrastructure, agriculture, and industry. This cartographic statement aligns with that vision: an inviting, didactic tool that champions tourism and economic promise. A demographic table at right signals a technocratic ethos, enumerating people and resources with up-to-date administrative clarity. Bilingual captions double as cultural diplomacy, extending Iraq’s story to a global readership and positioning the kingdom as both heir to Mesopotamia and architect of a modern future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcross the Tigris and Euphrates heartlands, the map layers culture upon topography. Baghdad anchors the center, with Basra opening to the Gulf and Mosul and Kirkuk signaling the resource-rich north. Cities and provinces—Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Najaf, Karbala, Samarra, Tikrit, Baqubah, Diyala, Al-Nasiriyah, Amarah, Fallujah, Ramadi, Al-Qadisiyyah, and Al-Muthanna—compose a coherent national itinerary. Lush dates, caravanning camels, and venerable water wheels evoke enduring agricultural rhythms, while scenic summer resorts in the Kurdish highlands invite travel and respite. Ancient marvels—most notably the Arch of Ctesiphon—stand beside Babylonian and Assyrian touchstones, situating modern Iraq within the cradle of civilization and foregrounding a continuous thread from antiquity to the twentieth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA finely drawn inset maps the arteries of modernization: roads, railways, pipelines, and airline routes knitting far-flung regions together. The cartographer highlights strategic linkages from Kirkuk’s oilfields to export nodes, from Baghdad’s crossroads to Basra’s maritime gateway on the Shatt al-Arab. Rail lines and highways bind the north to the south, while air corridors announce an Iraq plugged into regional and global circuits. This infrastructure portrait is not merely technical; it is ideological, projecting connectivity, mobility, and growth. In 1956, such networks embodied state ambition—moving grain, people, and petroleum—and this map translates that policy into an elegant, intelligible graphic language.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArtistically, the sheet is awash with saturated color and lively iconography, its decorative devices harmonized by clear graphic scale bars and confident lettering. It is at once primer and panorama: a learning tool that doubles as a celebration of place. For collectors and historians, its appeal lies in the union of style and substance—the way it synthesizes Mesopotamian antiquity, Islamic heritage, and mid-century development into a single, optimistic image. As a time capsule of the monarchy-era planning drive, and a testament to cultural and geographic diversity, it offers an eloquent window onto Iraq’s aspirations at the threshold of profound change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlaces on this map\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBaghdad\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBasra\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMosul\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErbil\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKirkuk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNajaf\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKarbala\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRamadi\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFallujah\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTikrit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAl-Qadisiyyah\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiyala\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAl-Nasiriya\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDuhok\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSulaymaniyah\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAmarah\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBaqubah\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSamarra\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAl-Muthanna\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNotable Features \u0026amp; Landmarks\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColorful illustrations of ancient sites like the Arch of Ctesiphon.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePictorial depictions of water wheels and camels, signifying agricultural practices.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLabels in both English and Arabic.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA table detailing demographic information on the right side.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInset map displaying transportation routes including roads, railways, pipelines, and airlines.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGraphic scale bars for distance measurements.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScenic representations of summer resorts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIllustration of important cities such as Baghdad.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdjacency to historical markers related to Mesopotamian civilization.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistorical and design context\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMap Title: Illustrated Map of Iraq \/ Kharitat al-'Iraq al-Musawwarah \/ خارطة العراق المصورة.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreation Date: 1956.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMapmaker\/Publisher: A. Karim Rifaat, published by the Baghdad Survey Press under the Development Board and Ministry of Development.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMapmaker Context: The Development Board and Ministry of Development were established in 1950 to investigate and utilize Iraq's natural resources and enhance economic growth following Iraq's independence in 1932.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDesign\/Style Context: The map features colorful illustrations and decorative elements, capturing both the cultural and geographical essence of Iraq. It employs a dual-language format (English and Arabic) for accessibility.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical Significance: The map reflects Iraq's aspirations for development and tourism in the post-colonial context, showcasing the country's historical sites and economic resources during a time when it was establishing its identity as an independent nation while still under strong British influence.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlease double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/fr\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 16x16in (40x40cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the \u003ca href=\"\/fr\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003ebest old maps\u003c\/a\u003e to see if something else catches your eye.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlease \u003ca href=\"\/fr\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003econtact me\u003c\/a\u003e to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"10x10 inches (25x25cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58094735720832,"sku":"UM00284780A","price":362.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"10x10 inches (25x25cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58094735753600,"sku":"UM00284781A","price":973.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"10x10 inches (25x25cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58094735786368,"sku":"UM00284782A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x12 inches (30x30cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58094735819136,"sku":"UM00284783A","price":362.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x12 inches (30x30cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58094735851904,"sku":"UM00284784A","price":973.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x12 inches (30x30cm) \/ 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