Map of the upper part of the Island of Manhattan above Eighty-Sixth Street Arranged to Illustrate the Battle of Harlem Heights

SHANNON, Joseph and ROGERS, W.C.

Edité par W.C. Rogers & Co, New York, 1868

Map. Color lithograph. Image measures 14.5" x 24". This incredible 1868 map of Upper Manhattan illustrate the early stages of the American Revolutionary War, specifically the Battle of Harlem Heights. The map shows Upper Manhattan from 81st Street to Fort George and includes the Upper East and West Sides, Morningside Heights, Inwood, Harlem and Washington Heights. Topography and geographical features shown in extensive detail with relief in hachures. Shows street grids, parks, notable buildings, docks, tunnels, waterways and swampland. Central Park is not delineated. The Battle of Harlem Heights was fought during the 1776 New York and New Jersey campaigns of the American Revolutionary War in what is today the Morningside Heights neighborhood. After being defeated in the Battle of Long Island, Washington held a few high ground positions in the northern parts of Manhattan and galvanized his troops against the superior British attackers. The Americans managed to push back the British, resulting in Washington's first battlefield victory of the war. He would however be forced to withdraw from New York later that year. The map indicates colors illustrating the British and American positions in red and blue respectively. A key near the bottom locates the Americans and British troops and the line of march for each. The map is in good condition with some foxing and verso repair along a tear near the left border and original fold lines. The map appeared in the 1868 edition of The Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York by Joseph Shannon, 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 1868 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. N° de réf. du vendeur 322043

Détails bibliographiques

Titre : Map of the upper part of the Island of ...
Éditeur : W.C. Rogers & Co, New York
Date d'édition : 1868
Reliure : unbound