Beschreibung
8vo. Pp. xii, [13], 24-571. Frontis. folding map reprints "Plan of the City of New York and Environs," 1785, by John Hills. 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. A few short closed tears to folds of maps. A notably well preserved copy. With the ownership signature of G. L. Trimble in pencil. Another pencil notation notes this copy was sold at Anderson Galleries auction house in 1910. 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, views of the "Old Blue Bell Tavern," Peck Slip," "Kingsbridge Road," "Burnham's Hotel," a lovely, bright, hand-colored reprint lithograph map of the "Original Grants of Village Lots from the Dutch West India Company to the Inhabitants of New-Amsterdam," 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 of this edition, which ranks as one of the finest of any of the annuals we have handled: Text block clean, no foxing, corners sharp, fold-outs bright. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 7238
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