Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York, for 1850.
New York: D.T. Valentine, 1850.
Illustrated manual of the Corporation of the City of New York. 552 pp. with 5 fold out maps and 22 diagrams and lithographed views. Full leather with ornately decorated gold on title, spine and covers. Cover laminated. 12mo. Spine chipped, and minor tears and chipping to some maps. Some illustrations loose. Most illustrations and maps in excellent condition. Maps and illustrations complete according to the "Index to the Illustrations in the Manuals of the Corporation of the City of New York", published by the Society of Iconophiles, 1906. Ownership copy of Edwin D. Morgan, Esq. D.T. Valentine, New York: 1850.
The "Manuals of the Corporation" are directories of extensive historical and contemporary records of New York compiled by D.T. Valentine. These books include detailed information on the meetings of the Aldermen Council, ordinances passed, public officials, the city's debts, directories of hospitals, alms houses and schools, ferry schedules, lists of public porters, demographics and census information, and descriptions of historic buildings and streets. Much of the information was gleaned from Dutch and English sources, as processed by Valentine. Notable illustrations in this edition include "View of the City of New York in 1792", Fort Amsterdam, Hell Gate and the Croton Aqueduct. Maps include "New Yorke 1695", A Plan of New York in 1729 (the Bradford map redrawn), a plan from 1763 and a contemporary map. D.T. Valentine (1801-1869) served as the Deputy to the Clerk of the Common Council for thirty-seven years without being promoted to Clerk. Valentine took it upon himself to compile the "Manuals", which he updated and published annually from 1841-1866. Many copies were personalized for prominent officials. Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883), for whom this copy was made, served as a New York councilman, alderman, senator (1850-1853) and governor (1859-1862) and one term in the U.S. Senate. He was a prominent Republican politician, and fought for the Union during the Civil War. This compendium is an excellent source of early New York City history.
Binding: Hardcover
Language: English
Price: $495.00
Item #290305