Western Union Trans-Atlantic Cables and Connections

This circa 1927 map poster illustrates the global reach of Western Union and its trans-Atlantic cable network at the height of early 20th-century communications. Designed as both an informational chart and a promotional statement, the richly colored map traces submarine cable routes linking Europe, North America, and South America, visually conveying the speed and reliability of modern telegraphy.

Inset photographs and diagrams document cable-laying ships and deep-sea operations, while bathymetric details of the Atlantic Ocean emphasize the technical challenge and achievement of undersea communication. The slogan “The Fast Route to America” underscores Western Union’s role in shrinking distances and accelerating global exchange during the interwar period.

The poster is in very good condition, with clean color, strong contrast, and only light, expected age wear, making it a compelling historical artifact of early global telecommunications.