c.1930s Mormon Trail Exodus Folk Art Style Pictorial Map Original Artwork

Date: c.1930s 
Artist: Swanson, Victor 
Size (in): 30” x 20”
Size (cm): 76 x 51
Condition: C+
Linen backed: N/A

This is a vintage c.1930s folk art style original artwork pictorial map the Mormon Trail.   This original artwork looks like pen and ink and watercolor on artboard which is imprinted “Hi-Art Illustration Board” on the back side.   The name Victor Swanson and “Group D” are written in pencil on the back.  The cartouche area of the map in the lower right corner is titled:

A MAP of the MORMON EXODUS and the founding of DESERT 

The route of the Mormon Trail from Nauvoo to Council Bluffs and then across Nebraska and Wyoming to the Great Salt Lake is delineated in red ink.  The map is decorated with various icons including Native American warriors on horseback, a cyclone in Kansas, an Indian teepee and a stampeding herd of buffalo.   The borders and corners are decorated with vignettes representing different events in the history of the Mormon people including the Mormon Battalion marching to the Pacific, U.S. troops occupying Utah after Winter Privation, the Flight from Nauvoo, Joseph Smith finding the Golden Plates and more.  

We don’t know the exact date this was produced but it looks to be c.1930s or perhaps 1940s.   The edges show wear in places and there is some bumping and wear on the corners.    There is some light foxing, slight scuffing, slight dust staining and minor scattered spots or small stains in places as well as a couple light partial crease lines.  There is a small area of loss to the substrate of the artboard on one corner on the back not affecting the artwork on the front side.   In spite of some wear this unique piece of original artwork still has a pleasing folk art style appearance.  Please see the photos and let us know if you have any questions.