1946 American News Company Map or Plan of the Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, New York City

This is an excellent map of New York City by the Barkan System Street Directory Company in 1946. The map covers the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx in extraordinary detail. In Manhattan, it covers from what is today Inwood Hill Park south to Battery Park, with the lower portions of Manhattan depicting in an inset in the lower right quadrant. In the Bronx, the map extends from Riverdale Park to Hart Island and north as far as Mt. Vernon. Also marks Randal’s Island, Ward’s Island, Riker’s Island, North and South Brother Islands and City Island. Throughout, the map identifies individual streets and avenues, parks, piers, addresses, important stations, railways, ferry lines, bridges and other topography. Subway lines are also noted.

At the time this map was published, New York had earned the reputation of being the most urbanized city in the world. As the world's first megalopolis, New York witnessed large-scale development in its infrastructure even during the Depression era. In fact, some of the New York's tallest skyscrapers and art deco buildings were built during this period.

The map is accompanied by a 160 page guidebook containing a complete street directory. This is one of the rare 19th century New York City maps to focus on Northern Manhattan and the Bronx. This map was compiled from the latest official map of the city of New York and published and copyrighted in 1946 by the Barkan System Street Directory Company. Distributed by the American News Company, Inc.