France - Planisphere; Raoul Auger ed edita dalle Éditions C.I.R. di Vichy. - [Lot of 2 maps] Course de l’Empire Français” / “Jeu de l’Empire Français” - 1921-1950

Pictorial map of the French colonial empire, printed in color on both sides of a folding card, illustrated and signed in print by Raoul Auger, dating to around 1941–1942.

The map on the “Course de l’Empire Français” side features a world map, with the Americas on the left, Europe and Africa in the center, and Asia and Oceania on the right. French possessions are highlighted in yellow, standing out from other lands in green and the blue oceans.

A network of red and blue routes crosses continents and oceans, connecting France with its colonial territories and numerous international ports. The legend distinguishes air routes from sea routes and indicates additional French connections. Small silhouettes of airplanes, steamships, and sailing ships accompany the routes.

Among the places shown are Paris, Marseille, Algiers, Dakar, Brazzaville, Madagascar, Djibouti, the French possessions in India, Indochina, New Caledonia and the Pacific archipelagos, as well as the Antilles and French Guiana. A large multicolored compass rose dominates the upper part of the map. Stylized monuments, human figures, animals, and vegetation enrich the different regions.

The border consists of two routes of 50 illustrated squares featuring cities, landscapes, ports, and figures associated with colonial history, navigation, and aviation.

On the reverse, “Jeu de l’Empire Français” features a second world map with a different graphic style: lands in brown tones, oceans in light green, and territories of the French Empire highlighted in red. A network of connections, including indications of some travel times, illustrates communications between France and its overseas territories.

The legend includes sea routes, air routes, a Trans-Saharan railway, and imperial motor roads. Ships and airplanes enliven the composition, accompanied by a compass rose positioned in the Indian Ocean. A border of 84 squares runs around the map, depicting views and products of the territories shown: coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, rice, spices, and other resources.

A work of interest to collectors of pictorial maps, transport maps, and colonial history, also conceived as a geography game. The presence of Marshal Pétain and the francisque documents its propagandistic context during the Vichy period.

It shows yellowing, wear to the edges and corners, abrasions, creases, and tears. There are splits along the central fold, more noticeable on the “Jeu de l’Empire Français” side, and visible repairs on the right margin of the “Course” side. A handwritten “1940” annotation appears along the lower margin of the reverse. The colors remain vivid and the cartography is generally easy to read.