Mark! When You Want a Pointer Regarding Your Western Trip Call on Your Nearest Ticket Agent or Any District Passenger Agent of the Northern Pacific Railway Co.
Mark! When You Want a Pointer Regarding Your Western Trip Call on Your Nearest Ticket Agent or Any District Passenger Agent of the Northern Pacific Railway Co.
Alternate Title:
Mark! When You Want a Pointer Regarding Your Western Trip Call on Your Nearest Ticket Agent
This amusing promotional map fits the route of the Northern Pacific Railway to the head and back of a “pointer” dog. The caption says it all: “Mark! When You Want a Pointer Regarding Your Western Trip Call on Your Nearest Ticket Agent or Any District Passenger Agent of the Northern Pacific Railway Co. or Address Chas. S. Fee General Passenger Agent St. Paul, Minn.” The verso contains a list of the railroad’s “General and District Passenger Agents.” Note that the location and size of the dog's body covers the track of the Northern Pacific's competitor's routes.
The map was produced by Poole Brothers of Chicago, a firm organized by George A. Poole, who had earlier been one of the cofounders of Rand, McNally & Co. Poole’s firm was “the largest one in the United States exclusively engaged in transportation printing,” and its clients “included practically every railroad in the country.” The Inland Printer, vol. 62, no. 1, October 1918, p. 85 (“George A. Poole Passes Away”). The list of agents on the verso carries the logo of Rand McNally.
The map was copyrighted in 1896 by Mr. Fee and was used in later years in a variety of ways, including on the railroad’s stationery. This copy shows the date “10-23-19” at the bottom center.
For other promotional railroad maps, including some using deceptive techniques, see Subject > Railroads. Cornell University Library is pleased to present this digital collection of Persuasive Maps, the originals of which have been collected and described by the private collector PJ Mode. The descriptive information in the “Collector’s Notes” has been supplied by Mr. Mode and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cornell University.
