Map of the Pacific Ocean Showing Distances between Principal Points and the International Date Line

This fascinating pocket map of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding area is an excellent example of the U.S. military–industrial complex at the turn of the 20th century. America’s newly acquired and far-flung empire required significant investment in infrastructure – military, communications, transportation facilities, etc. As an industrial supply company, National Supply would have been in a prime position to sell its myriad of products to the U.S. government (i.e. military) and private contractors working on various projects (defense, infrastructure, communications, etc.) across the former Spanish possessions in the Pacific. Furthermore, America’s Pacific territories opened up vast overseas markets that were previously largely unavailable. The map was engraved and published in Chicago by the Fort Dearborn Publishing Company in 1900. Distributed compliments of the National Supply Company, headquartered in Toledo, Ohio. Numerous advertisements for the firm (which had a branch in Pittsburgh) can be found on the verso and original paper covers.