This remarkable Richard Edes Harrison illustration from Fortune magazine captures a pivotal moment in American strategic thinking. Created in November 1940, when Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany and America debated intervention, Harrison's innovative azimuthal projections make a sophisticated visual argument for Anglo-American cooperation.
The triptych design is masterful: two hemisphere views contrast 'The American Problem' (compact, easily defended) with 'The British Problem' (diffuse, vulnerable), while the bottom panel unites them as 'The Joint Problem.' Harrison's text identifies critical chokepoints from Gibraltar to Singapore, warning that their fall would isolate London from its empire.
Harrison revolutionized how Americans understood global geography during WWII. His perspective maps, published regularly in Fortune, literally changed how readers saw the world, making distant strategic concerns feel immediate and comprehensible. A significant piece for collectors of wartime cartography, WWII ephemera, or mid-century American graphic design.
Size: 13.75" x 11"
Artist: Richard Edes Harrison
Condition: Very Good, Age-appropriate wear. Paper toning in accordance with the print's age. Marks/stains as per photo. Wear around the edges and minor paper loss might be present in some prints. Some illustrations may have writing or images on verso. Please refer to each print's image to get a better understanding of the condition.