Edwards, Tudor

Venice [Pocket Travel Guide • Illustrated City Companion]

New York: Rand McNally, 1969. Illustrated softcover.
A compact Venice guide from the golden age of print travel

A well-designed late-1960s pocket guide to Venice, issued by Rand McNally during a period when compact, highly portable travel books became essential companions for international tourism. Blending practical navigation with cultural context, it reflects the shift toward independent travel in postwar Europe.

Illustrated throughout with maps, drawings, and photographic reproductions, the guide balances orientation with experience. It includes detailed street and canal maps, site descriptions, historical notes, and practical sections such as food and local customs. The Canaletto-inspired cover and clean interior design give it strong visual appeal, while its size and format capture the era’s emphasis on efficient, on-the-ground usability.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Illustrated softcover wraps.
+++ Format: Pocket guide.
+++ Size: 5.25 by 6.25 inches.
+++ Pagination: 96 pages with index.
+++ Illustrations: Maps, drawings, and photographic reproductions throughout.

CONDITION: Bindings are tight and square. Text is clean; light, even toning. Modest handling wear.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE —
Issued at a time of expanding American tourism in Europe, this volume reflects Rand McNally’s role in shaping mid-century travel habits. Venice, as a centerpiece of European cultural travel, was consistently featured in such guides, reinforcing its position as an essential destination.

This guide represents a transitional moment in travel publishing—bridging earlier narrative-heavy guidebooks and the later highly condensed tourist manuals. Its structure emphasizes clarity and accessibility, guiding the reader through Venice’s geography while reinforcing its artistic and historical significance. The inclusion of food terminology, transport guidance, and neighborhood mapping reflects a traveler expected to engage directly with the city rather than observe it passively.

SUBJECTS: Venice travel, Italy tourism, mid-century travel guides, Rand McNally publications, European city guides, travel ephemera, Travel Guide, European Travel, Cultural Guidebook.

Item #16388

Price: $15.00