Original Item: Only One Available. This is a rare original March 1944 “Zones of France” escape and evasion map, scale 1:2,000,000, attributed through the collection of noted airborne historian and collector Mark Bando to Hugh “Duke” Roberts of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. The map measures approximately 22 ½ x 24 inches and shows extensive folding and edge wear consistent with being carried in the field. There are no period markings directly identifying Roberts on the fabric itself, so the attribution rests on its documented association within the Bando collection.

Attached to the map is a modern collection label reading M.355, accompanied by a printed photograph identifying Hugh “Duke” Roberts. The same number is written on the reverse and corresponds to Mark Bando’s collection cataloging system. This provenance is the basis for the Roberts attribution and should be considered separately from the map’s physical markings, since the fabric itself is not named.

In February 1944, in preparation for D-Day, the Intelligence School No. 9 (IS9) responsible for Western European Area (WEA) produced a second edition of the rayon map of France, printed in colors on one side, 1:2.000.000 scale (1 cm for 20 km). This map, called Zones of France in reference to the division of France after the Armistice, is mainly issued to SOE agents, Jedburgh teams, Operation Groups of the OSS and American and British paratroopers involved behind enemy lines during the liberation of the territory.

As you can see from the pictures, this map was definitely worn in service, either around the neck as intended or elsewhere. Some of the edges are folded and frayed, so it should be framed. The fold markings are very heavy. All colors are still vivid and the text on the map is still discernible. There are no markings on the map itself denoting it as Roberts’, but it came with good provenance from the collection of Mark Bando.

This example is especially noteworthy for its connection to the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment and the Mark Bando collection, together with its extensive evidence of carrying and use. The “Zones of France” map was one of the specialized tools prepared for Allied personnel entering occupied Europe in 1944, and this well-worn example preserves both the physical characteristics of that escape-and-evasion equipment and an important airborne collection provenance.