Vintage Road Map of India

1962, 2nd edition

Colour lithograph on paper backed with linen

Print size: 53.25 x 45.75 in (135 x 116.5 cm)
Sheet size: 55 x 46.25 in (140 x 117.5 cm)

This large-scale wall map represents a significant record of India's post-independence infrastructure and territorial landscape on the eve of major geopolitical shifts in the 1960s.

Produced by the Survey of India, the nation's oldest scientific department (est. 1767), the map provides a comprehensive overview of the primary and secondary road networks, including mountain passes and areas where travel delays might occur.

The 1962 edition of the map is particularly notable for its depiction of India’s geopolitical landscape during a period of transition, specifically highlighting the North East Frontier Agency (now Arunachal Pradesh) and the autonomous status of Bhutan, which is rendered in a distinct green wash. As one of the early publications to follow the Standards of Weights and Measures Act of the late 1950s, the map marks a significant shift toward the metric system in Indian cartography. Beyond its territorial details, the map serves as a functional guide for contemporary travellers, featuring a comprehensive infrastructure index and distance table, along with specialised keys to distinguish between various types of lodging facilities, such as full-service hotels versus basic lodging.

This work will be shipped in a roll