Map of the City of New-York Compiled & Surveyed by William Hooker
New York: John Hardy, 1870.
Color lithograph. 13" x 17". Expertly repaired on verso. In good condition.
This is a very unusual and rare map of New York City from the 1870 edition of the The Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York. First issued in 1831 By William Hooker and Peabody, this reissue is oriented with the southern end of Manhattan at the top, near the title, making the map appear upside-down. The map is incredibly detailed with important buildings, docks, parks and topographical features noted. The street grid up to 52nd street is noted, with city wards identified below 14th street. The map is in good condition with minor verso repairs near left margin.
The map appeared in the 1870 edition of The Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York by John Hardy, Clerk of the Common Council, an annual compendium of records about city history, city council information, and public works through text, maps, lithographs, and engravings.
The "Manuals of the Corporation" were directories of extensive historical and contemporary records of New York first 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. By this late date in the publishing of the manuals - the first was released in 1841 and the last in 1870 - the volumes had become extremely lavish, filled with illustrated and full-color folding maps. The 1870 edition is no exception, as it is illustrated throughout with lithographs and engravings of important city landmarks and personalities.
D.T. Valentine (1801-1869) served as the Deputy to the Clerk of the Common Council for thirty-seven years and took it upon himself to compile the "Manuals", which he updated and published annually from 1841-1866. Joseph Shannon succeeded Valentine as Clerk and published the manuals for 1868 and 1869. The final edition of the manual was published by John Hardy. It is an excellent source of early New York City history.
Binding: Unbound
Language: English
Price: $400.00
Item #322029