It looks to me like it was typed with an L C Smith—the numbers are unmistakeable and the slightly uneven look of the text reminds me a lot of the old L C Smith 8 I used to have. And I wouldn't be surprised if the machine they were using at the Division of Highways predates WWII.
The letter, along with the map, were preserved as a time capsule inside of the original mailing envelope. California official road maps are hard enough to find as they were not typically issued to the general public (the inclusion of the specially-typed letter backs this up as I doubt they would type up a letter like this for every single map they sent out!) so finding one with all the extras makes it just that much more special.
August is going to be a very busy month for me, so expect the current intermittent blog update schedule to continue! In less than a week, W and I are taking the train down to Portland for a couple days where I will finally get to meet the esteemed Richard Polt. As soon as we get back, my family is visiting for a week, and then the week after that a good friend will be staying over. Let's hope the weather only gets cooler from the current high of 92°F (33.33[repeating]°C).
I was curious about the odd typeface used in the "Office Engineer"s signature, until I figured it was probably a rubber stamp, but why would he bother leaving a single line open in the letter just for rubber-stamping a name he could have much easier typed? :D
ReplyDeleteHey, if you and Richard are near any of these sculptures, you should totally take a picture of it with a typewriter in it's lap.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Outdoor_sculptures_in_Portland,_Oregon
Right, it's a stamp! It confused me at first too, since it goes from typed to stamp to typed again.
DeleteNeat getting old type written letters. I wonder why California was so stingy with their maps. Then I was not around in '51. I do remember having quite a collection of maps from the 60s though when I was younger.
ReplyDeleteI think it's because California is California. It has always had a reputation as a tourist destination and maps were just another way of advertising (admittedly a very practical way) a state to potential tourists and businesspeople.
DeleteI hope you both enjoy your trip. Portland looks like a very interesting place... and say hi to Richard.
ReplyDeleteSometimes hard to imagine that back in those days EVERYTHING had to be done with typewriters or pens.
ReplyDelete