View, New York City and Brooklyn, Bird’s-eye Panorama, Charles Magnus, Antique Print, 19th Century

New York, Brooklyn & Williamsburg
Charles Magnus & Co., 12 Frankfort Street, New York: Mid 19th Century
Hand-colored engraving, varnished, black tinted margins, gold letters, as issued
5.5 x 8.75 inches, image
9 x 11.5 inches, sheet
$450

View of New York City, delineating buildings, docks and the bustling river traffic of ships and boats. It shows Governors Island in the foreground. Issued prior to the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. The small but remarkably highly detailed handcolored engraving was made with an unusual elaborate process — it was printed with a Federal style black margins with gold borders and letters and then varnished. In the mid 19^th Century, Charles Magnus (1826-1900) founded Charles Magnus & Co., a major map and print publisher based in New York City.  He had immigrated to New York City from Germany in 1848 and learned the printing trade from his brother who previously had established himself in the city as a publisher of a German newspaper. Charles Magnus’ prolific output in the second half of the 19^th century included numerous views and maps of New York City.

Condition: Generally very good with the usual light toning, wear, soiling, minor abrasions. Printed on card, which is slightly cockled.