Jo Mora’s Whimsical Map of San Diego (1928)
Format: Illustrated Map with Original Mailing Envelope
Size: 24” x 29”
Condition: Excellent vintage condition with minor wear along a fold (see photos)
This delightful illustrated map by renowned California artist Jo Mora offers a richly detailed and humorous take on San Diego’s history, geography, and culture—from a creative mind shaped by the ethos of the early 20th-century American West.
Very much a product of its time and place, the original envelope describes this as “A Humorous Presentation of the Topography, History, Development, and Diversified Activities of a California City.”
Commissioned as a souvenir for the Golden Anniversary of the historic Marston Store (August 8, 1878–1928), this piece is far more than a novelty item. As a work of art, it’s charming and cheeky. As a historical document, it’s fascinating—an exercise in how a city tells the story of itself, creating a collective narrative, folklore, even mythology.
Joseph Jacinto Mora (1876–1947), sometimes called the “Renaissance Man of the West,” was a Uruguayan-born California artist whose talents spanned illustration, sculpture, photography, and historical storytelling. His maps are celebrated for their wit, historical insight, and lively visual style.
Whether you collect vintage maps, love California lore, or admire early 20th-century illustration, this beauty stands out as both a work of art and a piece of history.
Jo Mora’s Whimsical Map of San Diego (1928)
Format: Illustrated Map with Original Mailing Envelope
Size: 24” x 29”
Condition: Excellent vintage condition with minor wear along a fold (see photos)
This delightful illustrated map by renowned California artist Jo Mora offers a richly detailed and humorous take on San Diego’s history, geography, and culture—from a creative mind shaped by the ethos of the early 20th-century American West.
Very much a product of its time and place, the original envelope describes this as “A Humorous Presentation of the Topography, History, Development, and Diversified Activities of a California City.”
Commissioned as a souvenir for the Golden Anniversary of the historic Marston Store (August 8, 1878–1928), this piece is far more than a novelty item. As a work of art, it’s charming and cheeky. As a historical document, it’s fascinating—an exercise in how a city tells the story of itself, creating a collective narrative, folklore, even mythology.
Joseph Jacinto Mora (1876–1947), sometimes called the “Renaissance Man of the West,” was a Uruguayan-born California artist whose talents spanned illustration, sculpture, photography, and historical storytelling. His maps are celebrated for their wit, historical insight, and lively visual style.
Whether you collect vintage maps, love California lore, or admire early 20th-century illustration, this beauty stands out as both a work of art and a piece of history.
