Old maps and atlases offer a glimpse into the geographical and/or poltical history of a country or city.
Take these four examples from the 1939 Collier’s World Atlas and Gazetteer.

1: Germany’s borders before World War Two
2: Hawaii before it became the 50th state
3: A detail of Los Angeles
4: Airway routes before the days of daily air travel

Germany and Hungary 1939

Hawaiian Islands 1939

Detail of Los Angeles 1939