General Drafting Co.’s 1948 Route of the Atlas Sky Merchant captures the jubilant postwar moment when aviation leapt from wartime utility to peacetime imagination. Rendered in the company’s exuberant mid-century pictorial style, the map chronicles Atlas Supply Company’s audacious “flying showroom” as it circles the globe—a corporate odyssey crowned by cheerful “Mission Accomplished!” and “Welcome Home!” cartouches. It is at once travelogue and testimonial, celebrating the DC-4 as the new ambassador of commerce. The composition’s radiant palette, lively vignettes, and confident route tracery embody the optimism of 1948, when air travel promised to compress continents and recast business outreach as a form of adventure.

The itinerary unfurls across hemispheres, threading American hubs before vaulting the Pacific via Honolulu and remote Canton Island—an essential mid-ocean steppingstone in the DC-4 era—on to Tokyo and the great cities of Asia. Southward arcs reach Singapore and the Indian subcontinent, with Bombay and Calcutta emblematic of newly reorganized air corridors. Across Rangoon and Karachi the line sweeps west to Cairo, then down Africa’s backbone through Nairobi to Johannesburg and Cape Town. A turn up the Atlantic touches Monrovia and leaps to Rio de Janeiro, with Oceania represented by Sydney and Auckland. Every segment reveals the practical constraints and clever logistics of long-range, multi-stop flight in the late 1940s.

Equally compelling is the marketing innovation the map records: a round-the-world airborne showroom sponsored by Atlas Supply Company and backed by Standard Oil of New Jersey. In an age before containerized trade fairs and corporate jets, the DC-4 became a traveling exhibition hall, projecting brand and product into distant markets while showcasing the reliability of global fueling networks. The collaboration exemplifies the era’s integrated strategies—aviation not just as transport, but as theater and diplomacy for commerce. Historically, the choice of a DC-4 is telling: the type, derived from the wartime C‑54, was simultaneously proving its endurance and reach in landmark operations of the same period.

Visually, the map revels in mid-century pictorial charm. Route lines course in bold color, punctuated by sleek DC-4 profiles that glide between cultural emblems—Mount Fuji near Tokyo, the Pyramids at Cairo, Christ the Redeemer above Rio, Table Mountain at Cape Town, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Urban skylines nod to New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, while vignettes animate local customs, fauna, and notable figures—East African wildlife around Nairobi, maritime scenes in Singapore, and the Gateway of India at Bombay. An informative panel credits the journey’s corporate partners, framing the expedition as both commercial spectacle and technological proof-of-concept, all conveyed with the playful, assured draftsmanship that made General Drafting a household name.

As a historical artifact, this map distills a world reordering itself: newly independent states in South Asia; re-opened Pacific routes; African cities rising as nodes of air commerce. It channels the adventurous spirit of 1948—when distance seemed conquerable and business could be carried by wing—while revealing how infrastructure and branding interlocked to accelerate global connections. The Atlas Sky Merchant’s triumphant lap around the planet foreshadows the age of international trade fairs, frequent flyer networks, and seamless logistics. Here, optimism, enterprise, and design converge, yielding a vivid document of early commercial aviation’s power to knit markets—and imaginations—into a single, navigable globe.

Places on this map

• Newark, New Jersey (starting point)
• San Francisco, California
• Chicago, Illinois
• New York City, New York
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• Tokyo, Japan
• Canton Island
• Singapore
• Bombay (Mumbai), India
• Calcutta (Kolkata), India
• Rangoon (Yangon), Burma (Myanmar)
• Karachi, Pakistan
• Cairo, Egypt
• Johannesburg, South Africa
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Nairobi, Kenya
• Monrovia, Liberia
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Sydney, Australia
• Auckland, New Zealand

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Route lines connecting various global locations, depicted in vibrant colors.
• Illustrations of the aircraft (DC-4) used for the journey.
• Visual representations of cultural landmarks and icons from different locations.
• Designated "Welcome Home!" and "Mission Accomplished!" markers.
• An informative panel detailing the journey and the companies involved.
• Diverse illustrations showcasing local customs, fauna, and notable figures from various regions.

Historical and design context

• Creation Date: 1948.
• Mapmaker/Publisher: General Drafting Co Inc — noted for mid-20th-century thematic and pictorial maps.
• The map details a significant aviation history milestone with the first round-the-world flying showroom, sponsored by Atlas Supply Company.
• Highlights the collaboration between notable companies such as Standard Oil of New Jersey, showcasing innovative marketing via air travel.
• Themes include aviation history, marketing strategies of the era, and the integration of global commerce through air travel.
• Highlights the adventurous spirit and the potential of air travel for business outreach.
• Features a mix of pictorial illustrations and thematic representations, characterized by vibrant colors and a playful design style typical of mid-20th-century cartography.
• Includes visual elements such as planes and cultural icons of various countries.
• Serves as an artifact demonstrating early 20th-century commercial aviation and its influence on marketing and global connections.
• Reflects societal perspectives on innovation and exploration during the post-World War II era.

Please 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.

This 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.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

This map is wider than most maps, which would make it a perfect statement piece above a mantelpiece, sofa or desk.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

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.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.

Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.

We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.

• We can deliver directly to the recipient
• Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
• Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
• Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
• 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide

If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.

Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.

We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.

Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.

Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.

Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.

If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.

Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.

Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.

We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.

Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.

Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.

All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.

If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.