BEING a world-famous webmaster (sort of) means that, on occasion, people send you things, completely unbidden. In September 2020 I got a big box of stuff sent by a woman in Texas (I seem to recall; I’ll have to look for the box at this remove to remember exactly). She didn’t want this stuff anymore, and figured I’d take it. I did, and sent her a thank you note. Some of the contents did replicate items already in my collection.
In the 20th century, Geographia, in its “little red books” series, as well as other publishers, put out street directories, which showed where streets began and ended (fairly easy in NYC in all boroughs but Queens, where numbered streets stop and start, and in locales like Philly, where the same street can turn up in separate neighborhoods miles apart). The street guides also showed addresses of cross streets, locations of transit lines, and police precinct houses, theaters, post offices, and other municipal buildings.
Geographia published a “New York” guide, by which they meant Manhattan; their all in one 5-borough book went by that name. This one is from 1964, by the World’s Fair reference. Also shown is one of the covers Hagstrom did for their street maps until 1970 or so, when they considerably streamlined the design. My friend’s father in law was a cab driver, so there’s some cab memorabilia, as well. She also helpfully labeled each item.
Forgotten people are good people…
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop. As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
3/19/25
11 comments
I have all sorts of ephemera, as it’s called, like this. Also a banker’s box full of mostly mid-century road maps. I promise not to inflict my stuff on you!
I have milk crates full of hundreds of out of date maps from the 20th Century. Looking for someone to take them, as I don’t want to throw them out.
Kevin, if you have any early to mid 50’s maps of Queens, i’d be interested, especially the LIC-Astoria area
I should clarify and say that I want to retain all my NYC material.
Kevin, let me correct this. I meant early 1900’s to mid 50’s. TY in advance
Have you reached out to the NY Public Library’s Map Collection? I should too, but haven’t…
I still have a Brooklyn Hagstrom map from the 1960s that looks like the one in the photo, but I cannot tell if I have the same edition. I also had the Brooklyn Geographia book (I may still have it, but I would have to search the house).
My old Hags are all falling apart at the folds and I wanted to put
them back together with scotch tape but someone said that will
just make them worse.
I can attest as I tried that decades ago and the tape turns yellow and brittle.
Attention pack rats: If & when you realize that you may have a few obsessive-compulsive tendencies that are interfering with your quality of life you can visit a UPS store & for a price, you can shred all those paper odds & ends that were occupying too much precious space. Where I live in Arizona, the county recently sponsored a shred-athon. I took advantage of the offer to rid myself of some tax returns that dated back to 1972 (the IRS requires that you retain only seven years’ worth, BTW). The county was wise enough to use locked & sealed containers with a slot on the cover for security reasons (identity thieves could wreak havoc otherwise) before county employees opened & shredded the contents. Also, the HOA is holding another shred event on Saturday, & I’ll be there with less sensitive paper items tomorrow. A good paper purge simplifies life.
Nowadays, much of this is obsolete especially with having apps for such on smartphones.