1849 Greenleaf Map of New York City and Environs

NewYorkCity-greenleaf-1849
$400.00
Map of Country Twenty Five Miles Round the City of New-York. - Main View
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1849 Greenleaf Map of New York City and Environs

NewYorkCity-greenleaf-1849

Pre-Railroad urban expansion.
$400.00

Title


Map of Country Twenty Five Miles Round the City of New-York.
  1849 (undated)     14.5 x 12.25 in (36.83 x 31.115 cm)     1 : 211200

Description


This is Jeremiah Greenleaf's 1849 map of New York City and Environs. It reflects a comprehensive overview of the greater New York City area - no doubt influenced by information obtained by Burr in his position as Surveyor General of New York.
Historical Context
This map follows in a series of maps that began with the 1811 John H. Eddy Map of the Country Thirty Miles Round the City of New York. The maps are distinctive for their round shape as well as for their expansive coverage, embracing not just New York City, but the surrounding communities including parts of New Jersey, Westchester County, Long Island, and Staten Island.

Their popularity is an indication of the urban expansion then underway. Although the Age of Rail had yet to emerge, providing fast economical mass transit and in doing so spurring explosive suburban growth, better roads, faster ships, and stronger infrastructure was already fueling rapid development in the greater New York City zone. Much of that infrastructure growth is illustrated here, with ferries, toll gates, turnpikes (many under construction), post roads, and docks noted throughout.
Publication History and Census
This map is a much-revised Greenleaf issue of the David Hugh Burr / 'Illman and Pilbrow' map of 1831. The Burr map plates fell into the hands of Jeremiah Greenleaf, who revised them for publication in his own Universal Atlas. The present example is from the 1849 edition of the atlas, the last and final, which was extensively revised over the 1848. We note an example in the David Rumsey Map collection, which has been populated digitally throughout OCLC, making a comprehensive survey of existing physical examples nearly impossible. Nonetheless, the 1849 edition of the atlas is rare, which Rumsey correctly notes is not in Karpinski. We do note an example, however, in Phillips.

CartographerS


Jeremiah Greenleaf (1791 - 1864) is a little known but highly admired American cartographer of the early 19th century. He published from roughly 1830 to 1850. His most important work is A New Universal Atlas; Comprising of all the Principal Empires, Kingdoms, and States Throughout the World and Forming a distinct Atlas of the United States, published in several editions in the 1840s. Many of his maps are reformatted versions of his contemporary David Burr's much admired cartographic works. Greenleaf's maps are extremely rare and admired for their stunningly vivid pastel color washes. More by this mapmaker...


David Hugh Burr (August 18, 1803 - December 25, 1875) of one of the first and most important truly American cartographers and map publishers. Burr was born in Bridgeport Connecticut in August of 1803. In 1822 Burr moved to Kingsboro, New York to study law. A year and a half later he was admitted to the New York Bar association. Burr must have questioned his choice of careers because shortly after being admitted to the Bar, he joined the New York State Militia. Though largely untrained in the art of surveying, Burr was assigned to work under Surveyor General of New York, Simeon De Witt, to survey several New York Roadways. Seeing a window of opportunity, Burr was able to negotiate with the governor of New York at the time, De Witt Clinton, to obtain copies of other New York survey work in order to compile a map and Atlas of the state of New York. Recognizing the need for quality survey work of its territory, the government of New York heartily endorsed and financed Burr's efforts. The resulting 1829 Atlas of the State of New York was the second atlas of an individual U.S. state and one of the most important state atlases ever produced. Burr went on to issue other maps both of New York and of the United States in general. In cooperation with publishing firm of Illman & Pillbrow, he produced an important New Universal Atlas and, with J.H. Colton, several very important maps of New York City. In recognition of this work, Burr was appointed both "Topographer to the Post office" and "Geographer to the House of Representatives of the United States". Later, in 1855, Burr was assigned to the newly created position of Surveyor General to the State of Utah. Burr retired from the position and from cartographic work in general in 1857 when light of some of his financial misdeeds and frauds came to light. He was accused of submitting false expense reports and underpaying employees, among other indiscretions. Learn More...

Source


Greenleaf, J., New Universal Atlas, (Brattleboro, Vermont: Greenleaf) 1849.    

Condition


Very good. Even overall toning.

References


Rumsey 15176.041.