1917 Finn View Map of Boston Harbor and Cape Cod, Massachusetts

A remarkable 1917 color lithograph map and view of Boston Harbor from Boston to Provincetown. Includes all of Cape Cod Bay, Quincy Bay and Dorchester Bay with the communities of Boston, east Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy, Hough's Neck, Mingham, Nantasket, Duxbury, Plymouth, Cohasset, Scituate, and Provincetown noted. Also notes many of the Islands in Boston Harbor including Moon Island, Spectacle Island, Thomson's Island, Long Island, Governor's Island, and many others. Ferry and steamboat routes are noted. Dated to 1917 and copyrighted by William J. Finn. Cartographically this map is based upon the late 19th century views of John Murphy.

Cartographers

William John Finn (February 18, 1867 - June 6, 1919) as an Irish-American newspaper man active in Boston during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Finn was born in Boston and spent most of his life working as a salesman for the Union News Co., specifically on the steamboat circuit of the Nantasket Line out of Rowes Wharf. In this position he supervised production of several chromolithograph views for sale at steamship terminals.   Further Details...

Union News Company (fl. c. 1890 - 1969) was founded by William Skelly in the late 1800's and operated until the late 1960s. After the railroads opened it became custom to have boys -newsboys- pass through the cars with waters, newspapers, and other small amenities. Skelly was the first newsboy on the railroad and became well known among railroad passengers. He gradually increased his facilities, hiring additional newsboys, until he virtually monopolized the railroad, and later steamship, news business. He made a small fortune and used this to found the Union News Company. The company was first known for the sales of newspapers in stations until it was able to expand and being selling papers on the train and in station restaurants. Union News continued to grow becoming major distributors of postcards and other printed items through their newsstands at hotels, rail and subway stations. The company officially folded in 1969.   Further Details...

Condition

Very good. Original folds. Attached to original binder. Blank on verso.