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1868 Rogers Map of Manhattan, New York City (North of 86th St)

NYCHarlemHeights4-rogers-1868
$550.00
Map of the Upper Part of the Island of Manhattan above eighty-sixth street arranged to illustrate the Battle of Harlem Heights. - Main View
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1868 Rogers Map of Manhattan, New York City (North of 86th St)

NYCHarlemHeights4-rogers-1868

Stunning of upper Manahattan drawn to illustrate the Battle of Harlem Heights.

Title


Map of the Upper Part of the Island of Manhattan above eighty-sixth street arranged to illustrate the Battle of Harlem Heights.
  1868 (dated)     15 x 23.5 in (38.1 x 59.69 cm)

Description


A stunning and rare 1868 map of the northern part of the island of Manhattan, New York city by W. C. Rogers. The map depicts the upper part of Manhattan, above 86th street (including Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley, Harlem, Inwood, the Upper West Side, the Upper east Side, etc...) in extraordinary detail, depicting streets, buildings, estates and in many cases individual trees. This map is most certainly based upon the 1836 Topographical Map of the City and County of New York drawn by David H. Burr and published by J.H. Colton. Colton’s map was perhaps the ‘finest example of artistic mapmaking applied to the Island of Manhattan’ (I.N. Phelps Stokes). This map uses only the northern portion of Colton’s map, but features the same stunning detail. It has been beautifully hand colored to illustrate the Battle of Harlem Heights. This is the finest map to specifically detail northern Manhattan of which we are aware.

Shannon commissioned this map to illustrate the events leading to the British takeover of New York City and vicinity during the American Revolutionary War. Specifically, it details the Battle of Harlem Heights and the Battle of Long Island. In 1776 the British General William Howe, fleeing Boston, regrouped and landed his forces on Long Island and Staten Island. After defeating George Washington at the Battle of Long Island, Howe seized control of New York City and most of Manhattan. A series of subsequent skirmishes culminated in the Battle of Harlem Heights, in what is now Morningside Heights, New York City. Washington controlled the highlands and galvanized his troops to a strong defense, holding the heights against superior British numbers and firepower. Nonetheless, the position proved untenable and Washington and his forces retreated northward to Westchester County. Howe, keen to seize the advantage, landed troops in Westchester, a flanking maneuver intended to encircle Washington’s forces. Washington, alerted to the tactic, entrenched himself in White Plains, but was unable to hold against Howe’s forces. Howe proceeded to drive Washington across New Jersey into Pennsylvania where he famously crossed the Delaware on December 26th to surprise a brigade of Hessian mercenaries in the Battle of Trenton – a strategic Continental victory and major turning point in the war.

Prepared for inclusion in the 1868 edition of Joseph Shannon’s Manual Of The Corporation Of The City of New York. An important piece for collectors of New York City cartography.

CartographerS


Joseph Shannon (fl. c. 1850 - 1869) produced a series of New York City almanacs and fact books entitled Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York. Shannon's Manual is very similar to the more common manual issued by David T. (Thomas) Valentine (1801 - 1869). The production of this annual manual was the responsibility of the Clerk of the Common Council of the City of New York, a position held at different times by both Shannon and Valentine. The manual included facts about the City of New York, City Council information, history, and reported on the progress of public works such as Central Park. More by this mapmaker...


William C. Rogers (fl. c. 1860 - 1873) was a New York based lithographer active in the mid to late 19th century. His is best known for his engravings issued in conjunction with Joseph Shannon's Manual of the Corporation fo the City of New York. Rogers issued several maps of New York City in the 1860s and 1870s. Learn More...

Source


Shannon, J., Shannon's Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York, (1868 edition).    

Condition


Very good condition. Original folds as issued. Minor verso repairs and reinforcement on some folds. Blank on verso.

References


Phillips (America) 537. Haskell, D., Manhattan Maps A Co-operative List, 1196.