Manual Corporation City New York Years, First Edition (5 results)

Cloth. Condition: Very Good-. 1st. 1st edition. A Very Good - copy. 16mo., 253 pp., with a large folding street map, large folding Plan (on light paper), Large folding engraving of Crotan Dam, a folding view of New Amsterdam, as well as many charts. Bound in the publisher's brown cloth, with the seal of New York in gilt on the front board, and the title on the spine. Small loss at the spine's crown; Joints' cloth cracking. Small spot on the front end paper, from a piece of paper sticking. News clipping taped to the rear end paper (small article stating the Valentine Manual from 1857 selling at auction for $7.50). Large folding maps and plans do have small tears where they join the binding. Tight, with very clean maps, plane, views and text.

Original cloth. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Stout 8vo. Pp. viii, [14], [1], 2pp. diagram of alderman chambers, 28-552, followed by tipped-in errata. Frontis. folding, hand-colored map of Manhattan's 12th Ward (lower Manhattan). Lavishly published with maps, charts and tinted lithographic views. Bound in original green cloth stamped in blind and gilt on front and rear boards, as well as spine. Spine cloth a bit faded; gilt dulled. Small closed tears to a few of the folding maps and plates. All told, an exceedingly well preserved copy. David Valentine's Manual remains "one of the best and most used sources for information about New York City during three decades of the nineteenth century . published annually between 1841 and 1870 (except in 1867)" (Lawrence, Valentine's Manuals: A General Index, p. 1).In 1830, when Valentine became Deputy Clerk of the Common Council, he manifested his interest in city history by staunching the outbound flow of municipal documents being channeled "to second-hand book- and print-shops, and so passed on into the outstretched hands of covetous autograph- and relic-hunters" (Lawrence, p. ix).As Valentine's title suggests, his manuals served as guides to current New York City with contemporary maps, plans, facts and figures (elected officials, demographics, tax rolls, etc.), but also reproduced historical print matter under his care as ad hoc archivist. Thus, in addition to acting as preservationist, Valentine shared his enthusiasm for Gotham history by reproducing, in this volume for example, a "Profile of the Twelve Avenues of the City of New York" (on blue paper, bound upside down); "The Public Squares, Parks and Places in the City of New York;" engraved plates depicting Dutch governance in the city; "A View of the Harbor in 1792;" a fold-out "Map of the City of New York in 1850," hand-colored on blue paper, and early newspaper extracts, among many other historical reproductions, all amid the facts and figures of the day. Among the latter, votes received by politicians, costs of operating jails, a roster of licensed pawnbrokers, names of every policeman and the wards in which they serve, and so forth.A particularly attractive, complete copy, with text block clean, corners sharp, fold-outs bright.

Original cloth. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. 8vo. Pp. xvi, 18-820. Frontis. portrait of David Valentine. Lavishly published with maps, charts and tinted lithographic views. Bound in green sand-grain cloth stamped in blind and gilt on front and rear boards, and spine. A few short, closed tears to maps along folds, one corner worn, light edge-wear to cloth, hinges starting but firm. A complete volume, well preserved and solid. Laid in is a clipping of a lengthy 1866 NY Times article. David Valentine's Manual remains "one of the best and most used sources for information about New York City during three decades of the nineteenth century . published annually between 1841 and 1870 (except in 1867)" (Lawrence, Valentine's Manuals: A General Index, p. 1).In 1830, when Valentine became Deputy Clerk of the Common Council, he manifested his interest in city history by staunching the outbound flow of municipal documents being channeled "to second-hand book- and print-shops, and so passed on into the outstretched hands of covetous autograph- and relic-hunters" (Lawrence, p. ix).The laid-in article clipping, type-signed "T.W.," contains the writer's reminiscences of New York City of 1815, contrasting that period with the zeitgeist of 1866. Identifying himself as a printer, the article impresses for its depth and detail. The account covers food and drink (the "cock-tail" had not yet been introduced; Champagne was beginning to be imported, but it was served warmed; "I doubt whether a tomato had been eaten in the City in 1815;" William Sykes introduced "the strawberry at his Banks Coffee-house" around 1815), geographical facts and figures ("Jersey City was 'no-where'"), references to NYC African-Americans (an "ebony preacher" at the Church-street African Church;" the 1815 equivalent of "Delmonico" was a black man named "Billy" who operated a "general resort" on William-street east of Frankfort, popular with professional men, that served "buckwheat cakes"), etc. The article's greatest emphasis is placed on the history of early 19th-century NYC printing: The author provides substantial detail.As Valentine's title suggests, his manuals served as guides to current New York City with contemporary maps, plans, facts and figures (elected officials, demographics, tax rolls, etc.), but also reproduced historical print matter under his care as ad hoc archivist. Thus, in addition to acting as preservationist, Valentine shared his enthusiasm for Gotham history by reproducing, in this volume for example, the "Plan of the City New York within the Palisades which were Erected in 1745 ." depicting the "Great Fire" of 1776 and the fire of 1778, which destroyed two blocks of shops and houses in lower Manhattan, an early "View of the Brevoort Estate and Vicinity Between 54 & 55 Sts. Near 1st Ave.", among many other historical reproductions, all amid the facts and figures of contemporary New York City. Included in the latter are votes received by politicians, costs of operating jails, a roster of licensed pawnbrokers, names of every policeman and the wards in which they serve, and so forth.A particularly attractive copy, with text block clean, no foxing, corners sharp, fold-outs bright.

Original cloth. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. 8vo. Pp. xii, 13-646. Frontis. folding, hand-colored "Map of the City and County of New York, 1858." Lavishly published with maps, charts and tinted lithographic views. Bound in brown ribbed cloth stamped in blind and gilt on front and rear boards, and spine. Maps with a few short, closed tears along folds, front joint starting. Withal, a solid copy with cloth bright, gilt gleaming. David Valentine's Manual remains "one of the best and most used sources for information about New York City during three decades of the nineteenth century . published annually between 1841 and 1870 (except in 1867)" (Lawrence, Valentine's Manuals: A General Index, p. 1).In 1830, when Valentine became Deputy Clerk of the Common Council, he manifested his interest in city history by staunching the outbound flow of municipal documents being channeled "to second-hand book- and print-shops, and so passed on into the outstretched hands of covetous autograph- and relic-hunters" (Lawrence, p. ix).As Valentine's title suggests, his manuals served as guides to current New York City with contemporary maps, plans, facts and figures (elected officials, demographics, tax rolls, etc.), but also reproduced historical print matter under his care as ad hoc archivist. Thus, in addition to acting as preservationist, Valentine shared his enthusiasm for Gotham history by reproducing, in this volume for example, a 1740 "View of Fort Greene with the City of New York from the S.W." a colored 1621 map "Americae Septentrionalis Pars," or early newspaper extracts, among many other historical reproductions, all amid the facts and figures of contemporary New York City. Amon the latter, votes received by politicians, costs of operating jails, a roster of licensed pawnbrokers, names of every policeman and the wards in which they serve, and so forth.A particularly attractive copy, with text block clean, corners sharp, fold-outs bright.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. No Jacket. 1st Edition. 16mo, 254 pp. Original publishers cloth, on front board the seal of New York in gilt. Large plan, large map, views, engravings. Fully complete copy in a fine condition, second in the series. Scarce first edition. Pictures at request.