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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!