As found at the estate of Allan Calhamer, in the same general area as the original game from our previous listing, but a couple of days later... Lot of 7 Maps / Drawings / Diplomacy Game Prototypes The two painted maps are on heavy kraft paper and when unrolled measure 42 x 29.5" (photo 1), 42 x 28" (photo 2) and the 5 paper maps are 11 x 8.5" (photo 4) and larger. The map in photo 4 is on tracing paper and the notes at the top are zoomed in on photos 5 & 6. These are believed to be original prototype drawings or maps - we are not 100% sure about this, but consulted Diplomacy expert Larry Peery with photos of the two painted maps who went on to write about them in the current issue of "Diplomacy World" (#137 Spring 2017 Issue)... "I opened the files and looked at what Kim had
sent. No, they weren’t the Bayeux Tapestry or an
Amerigo Vespucci original, but they were close --- at
least to a Diplomacy aficionado. Based on what Kim told me the maps are about 2 feet by
3 feet in size, painted in tempera on heavy paper (almost
certainly by Allan himself) in the late 1950s. I believe
they were original prototypes used to play test game
before Allan printed the first 500 copies of the game in
the late 1950s. . I haven’t seen the back of either map
but there is no doubt in my mind that they are authentic
originals. It doesn’t get much better than this. The top map is pretty much the Diplomacy board as we
know it from the Allan B. Calhamer edition or the first
Games Research edition. I’m guessing because I don’t know for sure, of course,
that this is the archetype for Diplomacy as the game we
know and love. Even more intriguing to me is the second map; which is
about the same size, material and art work. I suspect it
was an earlier version of the final map." "As you can see there are some major differences
between the two. These differences have been
discussed by others, such as Edi Birsan, and eventually
resulted in a simplification of the map that resulted in a
more playable and balanced game. Notice the
difference in the way the Mid Atlantic Ocean is treated.
France has a Burgundy divided into two spaces,
Germany has another space in the west, Austria has
another space, and Turkey is very different I’m sure you
can find other differences. For now, let’s consider this to be an original, one of a
kind, prototype of Allan’s masterpiece. Beyond that it is a
work of art. After all, he drew it and painted it himself.
This rises above being just another map and becomes a
real work of art. It needs to be framed. It needs to be
displayed. After all, copies of the Declaration of
Independence and the Magna Carta are in everybody’s
library. This is something truly special." The Greece maps are believed to be sketches of a game based on the Golden Age of Greece. Please feel free to ask any questions and be sure to view our other items for more treasures from Mr. Calhamer's estate! |