Life Presents R. Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion World

Photo Essay, LIFE Magazine, March 1, 1943 

New York:  Time, Inc., 1943 

Leaflet is overall in VERY GOOD condition.

• Photo illustrated cover sheet is mostly clean, with gray tone border frame. 
• Cover sheet shows some wear, bumping, creasing, a small spot, edgewear.  Corners are softened.  See photos.  
• Spine fold shows staple holes from magazine binding, a one-inch closed tear at head end.  See photos.  
• Four sheets 14" x 20.5" folded and interleaved, unbound.
• Maps, printed one side on heavier stock, are bright and clear.  
• Interior is gently age-toned, exhibits some smudges, light edgewear.  Inside pages are free of writing and intentional marks.
• PS2026.0604

16 pages. 10.25 x 14 inches

Original Issue.  Photo Essay published in LIFE Magazine, March 1, 1943 issue, Pages 41-56.  Featuring two sheets of heavy stock on which are printed Fuller's projection of the Earth's surface.  Unbound, with staple holes where the sheets were bound into the magazine issue.  A little bumping to the edges of the sheets; the maps are uncut, unmarked, and bright.  Condition is overall Very Good.  A fine example of cartographic ephemera from 1943.

The Dymaxion map projection is the work of R. Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983), an American architect, systems theorist, writer, designer, inventor, philosopher, and futurist.  Fuller coined the term "Dymaxion" as a blend of dynamic, maximum, and tension.  He wanted a map that provided maximum accuracy while eliminating the cultural bias of a traditional "north-up" orientation.        

The photo essay that appeared in LIFE presented Fuller's projection onto a cuboctahedron, including several examples of possible arrangements of the square and triangular pieces, plus a pull-out section of one-sided magazine pages with the map faces printed on them, intended to be cut out to make a three-dimensional cuboctahedron or its two-dimensional net.

The original 1943 pull-out insert is considered a significant piece of mid-century cartographic design.  Original copies of the March 1, 1943 LIFE magazine and surviving uncut inserts are highly sought after by collectors of cartography and mid-century ephemera. 

Please see photos. More photos available upon request.

International first class shipping includes a handling charge to cover insurance.

Domestic orders over $250 include a handling charge to cover signature confirmation.

#panoplybooks #rarebooks #bookboutique #collectiblebooks #antiquebooks #vintagebooks #bookstore

We invite you to view our Shipping & Returns policies, or to contact us with any questions.