About this Item
This skillfully engraved wall map was drawn by J. Calvin Smith, while engraving and printing was performed by S. Stiles & Co. in New York. It was published by the firm of J.H. Colton & Co., originally in 1836 (per the copyright date in the bottom border), but this example dates to 1844. Later versions were issued in 1847 and 1854, and all are uncommon on the market. The wide scope of the map, printed on four sheets and mounted on linen, allows for the large scale visualization of tremendous detail. Regional topography is immediately apparent with relief shown in hachure. The Palisades, Hudson Highlands, and Devil's Den (note the shape of a hoofprint) are notable highlights. At the opposite end, lowlands are shown pictorially and can be seen along the entire southern shore of Long Island. Geographic features aside, the real interest lies in the depiction of settlement and industrial growth across one of America's dynamic greater urban areas in the mid-19th century. Small details such as lighthouses, race courses, forts, and toll gates provide a fascinating glimpse of the rapidly developing countryside. In many cases, individual buildings are outlined along the robust system of post roads and turnpikes. Distances between points, and from New York City (reflecting its regional importance) are helpfully provided, where applicable. Villages, county seats, court houses, churches, post offices, and meeting houses are identified according to the legend below the title. The key also indicates that the small starbursts represent mills and manufactories, many of which can be found along streams and rivers due to their reliance on water power. The perfection of the steam engine in the decades leading up to publication removed that requirement, and facilitated the development of the true mechanism of 19th century growth - the railroad. Colton's map shows rail lines both completed and under construction, with important examples including the Long Island Railroad, the New Jersey Railroad, the Housatonic Railroad, the New York and Erie Railroad, and the completed route to Albany (upgraded from 'Proposed' on an earlier issue). Further detail on rail lines and their terminuses can be seen in the four inset city plans at the bottom of the sheet. Street grids and notable landmarks are provided for New Haven, New Brighton, Newark, and Brooklyn. Sheet Width (in) 56.75 Sheet Height (in) 38 Condition Description Four sheets professionally cleaned, restored, and mounted on new linen with original black wooden rollers. Several areas of moderate damp staining remain visible within the image, notably in Long Island Sound and above the view of New Brighton. Lightening along former cracking and creasing evident throughout, most evidently along the horizontal seams between sheets. A few small areas of paper loss do occur in the lower right and have been restored. However, the image remains almost entirely intact and retains a bold, distinct impression that is free of varnish. Seller Inventory # 2058
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