1973 Shemin / Royster Pictorial View of Nantucket, Massachusetts

The Little Grey Lady of the Sea.

A charming 1973 pictorial view of Nantucket, Massachusetts, produced by Mickey Shemin and Henry Royster. Employing Shemin's distinctive style, the view evokes 19th-century city views, though representing the island as it was in 1973.

A Closer Look

Oriented towards the southwest, this view focuses on the town of Nantucket, the main settlement on the eponymous island. Local businesses, churches, museums, wharves, and historical sites are labeled throughout. Art galleries and antique shops are especially well-represented, likely a reflection of the creators' allegiances. The smaller town of 'Sconset (Siasconset) on the easternmost part of the island is illustrated in an inset at the bottom-left. Various landmarks around the island, including lighthouses, ships, and historic structures, surround the main view in the border, along with a map of the entire island on the right. Characteristic of Shemin's work, the view is printed on parchment paper meant to look aged and is reminiscent of 19th-century city views, replete with horse-drawn carriages and a wide, ornate border.

Publication History and Census

This view was drawn by Mickey Shemin in 1973 and distributed by Henry Royster, a local publisher. It was printed in two runs, one on off-white paper and the other on yellowish paper; some of the former are individually numbered up to the full run of 300 prints. The only institution known to hold the view is the Boston Public Library and it is scarce to the market. For reasons unknown, when it does appear on the market, it more often does so in the United Kingdom and Continental Europe.

Cartographer

Michael 'Mickey' Phillip Shemin (January 5, 1950 - January 19, 2021) was an Aspen, Colorado, based publisher and illustrator who produced distinctive pictorial views of various U.S. towns and cities. Shemin was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. Beginning his career in advertising, he transitioned to journalism and publishing in 2001 when he founded the Bayonne Evening Star Telegram, a local newspaper that drew a following for its innovative art and strong opinions. Shemin moved to Aspen, Colorado, where he was known for his love of vintage brick-a-brack, coins, books, and stamps. He opened antique shops in Aspen and Cripple Creek specializing in antique books and prints. Sometime around 1970, he founded the Pict-O-Graph Company, which published maps of resort cities throughout the United States, but primarily in Colorado and Massachusetts. Although the work of multiple artists, the maps have a consistent, intricate, almost miniaturist style, combining elements of 19th-century bird's-eye views, complex decorative borders, and mottled or toned paper to achieve a 'vintage' look, sometimes highlighted with gold printing. The print runs were small, typically in the low hundreds. Later in life, he left Aspen to settle in Recoleta, a wealthy district of Buenos Aires, Argentina. There, he drew and issued his last map of Recoleta, of which we have identified no examples. Shemin died in Buenos Aires of liver cancer.   Further Details...

Condition

Fine.

References

OCLC 1005988550.