The very first drawing of the map of Disneyland’s theme park that had been sketched in the year 1953 has been sold at an auction for $708,000.
This was the epic drawing that used to persuade investors to pool their funds for the theme park. Though it is quite a respectable sum, it has fallen short of the $750,000 to $1 million that Van Eaton galleries, the Los Angeles-based auction house had initially estimated.
An anonymous American collector had placed the winning bid on 25th June 2017 for the 3 and a half foot by 5 and a half foot plan for Disneyland that would come to fruition in 1955.
The map was a brainchild of Walt Disney himself.
And, Disney had himself created the map along with Herb Ryman, his fellow illustrator in just a single weekend. In combination with interesting features including Main Street and of course the iconic Sleeping Beauty castle, it portrays areas that have never been realized, for instance the Lilliputian Land.
This is the second time the Disneyland map is sold.
Following the construction of this theme park, the map was hanging in the office of Disney until Grenade Curran, a production assistant had inquired if he could take it home.
He told the news media that he was quite keen to keep it with him for the sake of historical charm intrinsically associated with it. Curran was present at the opening of Disneyland. Ron Clark, the map’s previous owner who is a Disney memorabilia collector had purchased it from Curran about 40 years ago.
Hand-drawn maps currently are no longer in use.
Even then, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts continues to create artistic renderings for its theme parks.
