"South Up" maps have a long history. You can read about South-Up maps in our book Seeing Through Maps. Included are images from Rome (200AD), Etzlaub's map of Europe (1501), Japan, Lenz's "USA as seen from Canada" and others. There are now four "south up" maps available from ODT. They can be seen below (click on images to enlarge) and you can link under each map to a detailed explanation.
 Hobo-Dyer side "B" $8.95 |
 New South-up HDP $20.00 folded paper |
 What's up? South! $29.95 |
 McArthur's Universal $29.95 |
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The Hobo-Dyer has South Up on one side and North Up on the Other |
This Hobo-Dyer has South Up and Africa in the center
It is available only in paper, folded. Size is 21" x 33" |
The What's Up? South! Map is a Van der Grinten Projection and is our biggest
map (full 56" wide) |
The McArthur map was invented by young man in Australia. |
At last, the first move has been made - the first step in the long overdue crusade to elevate our glorious but neglected nation from the gloomy depths of anonymity in the world power struggle to its rightful position -- towering over its northern neighbours, reigning splendidly at the helm of the universe.
Never again to suffer the perpetual onslaught of "downunder" jokes -- implications from Northern nations that the height of a country's prestige is determined by its equivalent spatial location on a conventional map of the world.
This map, a subtle but definite first step, corrects the situation. No longer will the South wallow in a pit of insignificance, carrying the North on its shoulders for little or no recognition of her efforts.
Finally, South emerges on top.
Spread the word. Spread the map! South is superior. South dominates!
Long live AUSTRALIA -- RULER OF THE UNIVERSE!!
© 1979. Rex Publications. All rights reserved.Background on how and why McArthur map was developed
McArthur's Universal Corrective Map of the World:
Original and classic version. Imported from Australia and laminated in the
USA. Unique downunder viewpoint with cheeky Aussie humor. This map was
created by Stuart McArthur of Melbourne, Australia. He drew his first
South-Up map when he was 12 years old (1970). His geography teacher told him
to re-do his assignment with the "correct" way up if he wanted to pass. Three
years later he was an exchange student in Japan. He was taunted by his
exchange student-friends from the USA for coming from "the bottom of the
world." It was then, at age 15, he resolved to one day publish a map with
Australia at the top. Six years later, while at Melbourne University, he
produced the world's first "modern" south up map and launched it on Australia
day in 1979. It has sold over 350,000 copies to date.
Size: 23" x 35". Laminated (3 mil). Price: $29.95 plus $6.50 S&H.