1859
Maker: Colton
Antique hand-colored map from Colton's Atlas of America Illustrating the Physical and Political Geography of North and South America and the West India Islands by George W. Colton, 1859. The atlas title page indicates the atlas was published by J.H. Colton and Company, but each map in the atlas says it was published by Johnson & Browning (the addresses for both Colton/Johnson & Browning are the same). This map shows New York City and Brooklyn with roads, railroads and proposed railroads, etc. An inset map shows the northern portion of Manhattan. The creation of a large park in Manhattan was first proposed in the 1840s, and a 778-acre park approved in 1853. In 1857, landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition for the park with their "Greensward Plan". Construction began the same year; the park's first areas were opened to the public in late 1858. Additional land at the northern end of Central Park was purchased in 1859, and the park was completed in 1876. Colton's unique decorative border surrounds the map. The Colton firm refused to compromise quality, choosing to compete for sales in the finer quality international market rather than the inexpensive domestic one. Because of this, all maps were engraved by steel plates rather than by wax engraving which became the most common method used in the US. Very good antique condition with some tiny mild spots/foxing and signs of age. Measures approx. 16 x 26 inches to the outside of the decorative border.
Item Number: TOW716