No.5: Chiapas is a striking 1922 survey of Mexico’s southernmost state, created by the Dirección de Estudios Geográficos y Climatológicos and published by the Secretaría de Agricultura y Fomento. Issued under the guidance of the prominent Jefe Ing. Sotero Prieto and Jefe Ing. Luciano López Sorcini, with lithography by Antonio Hernández and colleagues, it crystallizes the federal ambition of the early postrevolutionary era: to understand territory through disciplined measurement and make that knowledge useful for governance, education, and development. The sheet sets out a richly articulated portrait of Chiapas—its population patterns, political divisions, routes of communication, and terrain—while alluding to the region’s deep past through refined decorative motifs inspired by Maya art. It stands at the threshold between nineteenth-century survey practice and the thematic cartography of the modern state.

The design is both lucid and luxuriant. Relief is modeled with subtle shadings that pull mountain chains and basins into three-dimensional clarity, while county and state boundaries are sharply inscribed to guide the eye from administration to landscape. Major roads stride across the sheet in confident red, connecting highlands and coast, and the vast “Océano Pacífico” anchors the map’s southwest with a maritime horizon. Marginal notes and legible labels structure a dense field of toponyms, from principal cities to remote settlements, and a carefully organized legend explains the symbology of population densities and land use. A companion set of transparent geological overlays—part of the survey’s methodology—highlights rock formations and structural trends, underscoring how the map fuses physical geography with human presence in a single, intelligible tableau.

Chiapas’s remarkable physiography is revealed through the shaded relief. The Sierra Madre de Chiapas rises along the Pacific rim, its steep buttresses descending to narrow coastal plains and river-cut valleys. Inland, the Depresión Central opens around Tuxtla Gutiérrez and Chiapa de Corzo, a corridor carved by the Río Grijalva on its journey northwest. Eastward, the high, cool mesas around San Cristóbal de las Casas and Comitán give way to broken karst and forested tracts that the survey renders with tonal finesse. Border rivers—among them the Suchiate, near Tapachula—mark the approach to Guatemala, while the great volcanic sentinel Tacaná looms over the Soconusco. The map registers these contrasts—humid littoral, dramatic canyonlands, and cloud-draped uplands—so that climate, relief, and settlement appear as parts of a coherent system.

Against this physical framework, the human geography comes into view. Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the administrative hub, sits astride the valley routes that converge on the Grijalva; Chiapa de Corzo punctuates the river’s bend with history and commerce. San Cristóbal de las Casas crowns the highlands, its cooler plateau linked by sinuous roads to Comitán on the southeastern marches. Tapachula, gateway to the coastal Soconusco and the Guatemalan frontier, anchors a network of routes running parallel to the sea. Villaflores and the small town of Palencia add texture to the evolving web of market towns and agricultural districts. Red-lined roads stitch these places together, and the population-density markings thicken notably in the Central Depression and along the Pacific slope, thinning in the rugged interior where mountains and forests prevail.

The map’s scholarly authority is inseparable from its cultural sensibility. Prieto and López Sorcini direct a synthesis that marries field observation, statistical compilation, and careful drafting, while the lithographers, led by Antonio Hernández, deliver an image of uncommon clarity. Decorative Maya-inspired elements acknowledge the Indigenous heritage that shaped the toponymy, settlement, and ceremonial landscapes of Chiapas, even as the federal imprint signals a nation modernizing its knowledge infrastructure. The geological overlays—attentive to volcanic arcs, limestones, and alluvial tracts—reflect the Secretaría de Agricultura y Fomento’s interest in soils, resources, and infrastructure planning. As an educational instrument and a policy tool, No.5: Chiapas captures a state in transition, rendering its intricacies with a precision and grace that remain intellectually and aesthetically compelling.

Cities and towns on this map

• Tuxtla Gutierrez (Current Population: 578,000)
• Tapachula (Current Population: 327,000)
• San Cristóbal de las Casas (Current Population: 196,000)
• Palencia (small town, less than 50,000)
• Comitán (Current Population: 61,000)
• Villaflores (Current Population: 36,000)
• Chiapa de Corzo (Current Population: 26,000)

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Detailed outlines of county and state boundaries.
• Major roads indicated with red lines.
• Proximity to the Pacific Ocean, labeled as "Océano Pacífico."
• Topographical shading representing relief.
• Population density markings.
• Labels for towns and geographical landmarks.
• Geographical features like rivers, mountains, and valleys.
• Decorative elements reflecting Mayan culture.

Historical and design context

• Publication Year: 1922
• Mapmaker/Publisher: Created by Mexico's Dirección de Estudios Geográficos y Climatológicos, published by the Secretaría de Agricultura y Fomento.
• Notable Figures: The map was produced under the direction of prominent cartographers Jefe Ing. Sotero Prieto and Jefe Ing. Luciano Lopez Sorcini, with lithography executed by Antonio Hernandez and others.
• Design and Style: The map features colorful representations of the landscape, with a detailed topographic and demographic layout, and has marginal notes and labels indicating various geological and cartographic features. Decorative Mayan illustrations enhance its aesthetic appeal.
• Historical Significance: Serves as an educational tool for understanding the geographical complexities and demographic features of Chiapas in the early 20th century, and marks the historical transition of mapmaking techniques during that period.
• Cultural Context: Provides insight into the rich cultural heritage of the region with references to indigenous populations through artworks on the cover and title page.

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.