Map, Escape, Silk, MI 9, CYRENAICA, North Africa, K1/K2

Rare genuine WWII British silk escape map, Cyrenaica, printed on both sides.

Scale: 1:1,657,000.

This is one of the earliest series of silk or rayon escape maps produced by Bartholomew of Edinburgh on behalf of the MI 9, heat-treated to prevent the cloth from unravelling, and intended for being issued to RAF and USAAF aicrews flying of enemy-occupied territories.

The first side covers the coastline of Cyrenaica -- that is, eastern Libya -- and the Nile Delta, Egypt, from Benghazi to Port Said, as well as the island of Crete; the second side covers a wider part of North Africa, encompassing eastern Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, along with the northern regions of Niger and Chad.

Very good overall condition.

Dimensions: about 18.30in x 20.65in.