Walt Disney’s original map of Disneyland is set to auction on June 25.
The piece is unquestionably the most important piece of Disneyland memorabilia ever offered, hence the estimate of $750,000-1m.
It was drawn up by Disney’s friend Herb Ryman over a single weekend in September 1953. Disney explained his vision for the park, which Ryman attempted to capture.
This extraordinary map was the result
The map was instrumental in securing funding for Disneyland
On the Monday, Disney took the map to a meeting with some financiers in New York.
Ryman went on to design many of Disneyland’s most iconic areas, including Main Street USA and the Sleeping Beauty Castle.
The map was later enhanced and used as the park’s first promotional image.
In March 1955, just before the park opened, Disney gave it to an employee named Grenade Curran – who sold it to the consignor 40 years ago.
Van Eaton Galleries co-owner Mike Van Eaton explains: “That an artifact like this, which is so deeply rooted in the creation of Disneyland, still exists today is astonishing.
“With the discovery of this piece, we have an item that Walt Disney created during a 48 hour period of hard work and imaginative genius, which succeeded in getting him the funding he needed to build one of the most successful endeavors of his career, and which he continued to personally use throughout the entire building stages of Disneyland.
“Without this map, there would likely not be a Disneyland today.”
Check out this incredible animation cel signed by Disney himself for sale at Paul Fraser Collectibles.
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