Some Treasured Space Maps I Once Had as a Child

    And rediscovered online via the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, The American Geographical Society Library Digital Map Collection! 

    From Rand McNally & Co. (1958)

    My personal favorite: The Universal Map of Outer Space.

Rand McNally Universal Map of Outer Space (reverse side only)

    This colorful map even has the distinction of making an uncredited appearance in one of sci fi's most iconic film from the 1950's, serving as the literal backdrop to actor Edward Innes' character: Brigadier General Alan Prescott.

As seen in 'The Angry Red Planet' (1959)

   I wore out the paper map early from overuse.

   Then there was the second map, which lasted until the mid 1970's before becoming too tattered to keep: the Rand McNally Space Map and Moon Map. Here is the obverse side.

    As a kid, I didn't like the aesthetic of the moon being split into two halves, as shown below, but that was before I learned to read. I also thought the mechanical fingers of the above space man in orange, right hand looked broken, as though they were limply dangling. Maybe that's why he's drawing his hand up to his visor: to check out what's wrong. I didn't realize then that he merely had his robotic palm facing upward. WAIT A SECOND! The hand is still messed up! With the palm and fingers turned upwards, the opposable thumb is on the incorrect side. That space man has TWO LEFT HANDS! My younger self was right to notice the mistake after all!

   The Rand McNally Space Map and Moon Map's reverse side.

The links to UWM's digital collection:

UWM's Rand McNally Space Map and Moon Map (obverse side)

UWM's Rand McNally Space Map and Moon Map (reverse side)

UWM's Rand McNally Universal Map of Outer Space (reverse side only)