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Abstract: Statistical information such as LSA incorporation, temple construction, etc. Notes: |
(Original map measures 53 cm high x 98 cm wide.)
About this map (material collected by J.W. Conkling):
Although there is no identification on this map as to its originator we know from
references to it by the Hand of the Cause of God Ugo Giachery that it was
prepared by Shoghi Effendi. He gave the original to Mr. Giachery to have printed
in Italy. Mr. Giachery writes about the printing of this map and an earlier map
published in 1953 denoting the goals of the Ten Year World Crusade in his book
Shoghi Effendi: Recollections (George Ronald, pp. 43-46) as follows:
“Twice it was my good fortune to handle the reproduction of two maps
which Shoghi Effendi made to show to the Bahá’í world the goals and progress of
the Ten Year Crusade: the ten year international Bahá’í teaching and
consolidation plan, 1953-1963, and the victories won during the first five years
of this plan, 1953-1958. [See the other map at bahai-library.com/shoghieffendi_goals_crusade.] The original maps entrusted to me for reproduction
were drawn by Shoghi Effendi’s own hand. They represented the entire world,
including the Arctic and Antarctic regions. By the ingenious and artistic use of
well-conceived lines, colours, circles and other symbols, Shoghi Effendi
presented on these maps (each on thirty-eight inches by twenty-two inches) the
whole content of hundreds of pages of printing.
“The first original was brought to me in Italy by a pilgrim returning from
the Holy Land in the latter part of 1952. It had to be reproduced in time to be
annexed to the booklet The Bahá’í Faith 1844-1942: Information Statistical and
Comparative, to be published simultaneously in London and in Wilmette [IL]. It
was also intended for the Intercontinental Teaching Conferences held in
Kampala, Chicago, Stockholm and New Delhi in 1953, and for the twelve National
Bahá’í Conventions held in April of that same year. Knowing the reluctance of the
Italians in general to print anything of which the Church of Rome may
disapprove, I had to move wisely and cautiously to find a printer in Italy who
would undertake to carry out the project without fear or eventual regret. After
some unsuccessful attempts, when I was turned down for incredible reasons, I
was able to locate a firm which agreed to execute the work. Map printing is an
art in itself. It requires special machinery which at that time was not readily
available in a country that was slowly recovering from the ravages of a disastrous
war. . . .”
“As soon as the first copies of the first map came off the press, a sample
was sent to Shoghi Effendi. It was swiftly acknowledged with a cable of thanks
and praise. Instructions for a second printing were received in the spring of
1953, thus necessitating my presence in Italy and preventing my taking part in
the Intercontinental Conference held in the United States.”
“The second map was prepared by Shoghi Effendi during the summer
months of 1957.... He had been so pleased at the development of the first four
and a half years of the Ten Year Crusade that, in his message of October 1957
(which was to be his very last), he called for the holding of five Intercontinental
Conferences in 1958. At this time the second map, depicting the victories with true
originality and accuracy, was to be presented.
”When, on 4 November 1957, the light of the world was dimmed by his
passing, and I rushed to London at the request of Rúhíyyih Khánum, the map
had just been finished. On entering his room, the day after his passing, I saw it
lying on two small mahogany tables that had been drawn together to make the
necessary wide space available. Coloured pencils, pens, penknife, eraser, rulers
and a compass were lying to the right of the map, just as he had left them
when, in the late afternoon of the previous day, turning to Ruhiyyih Khanum, he
had said: ‘The map is now finished’.
“The next morning he winged his flight to the Kingdom on High, but the map
was there, to testify to his love for mankind and to what he had created to bring
about its unity.” from Shoghi Effendi: Recollections
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