Vintage fold-out 1940 Esso road map of New York, printed more than 82 years ago.

• The map opens to 23" x 33" and has great detail on old highway alignments and route numbers in the Empire State, with cartography by the General Drafting Company.



• On the reverse side there is a pictorial map of the state, plus inset plans of Syracuse, Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, and southern New York.



• The map was distributed by the Colonial Beacon Oil Company in 1940 to promote its Esso brand, and it is dated in the legend.



• The photograph on the front cover shows Niagara Falls.



• The map labels the fictitious town of "Agloe" — a "copyright trap" placed on Esso road maps by the General Drafting Company. The purpose behind using this nonexistent town was to reveal if rival mapmakers were copying the information.



• The name "Agloe" was a scramble of the initials of Otto G. Lindberg (founder of the General Drafting Company) and his assistant Ernest Alpers. They located the town at a dirt-road intersection north of Roscoe, in the Catskills.



• Condition:  This map is in very good condition, bright and clean, with no rips, tears, or writing. Please see the scans and feel free to ask any questions.



• Buy with confidence! We are always happy to combine shipping on the purchase of multiple items — just make sure to pay for everything at one time, not individually.