Description
This map was issued during the heyday of drawn bird’s-eye views of American towns, which lasted from the Civil War to around 1910. Historians estimate that some 4,500 views were produced nationwide during that period. In an era before aviation, the creation of these panoramas was an act of imagination, combining information from city maps, ground-level sketches of buildings and the rules of Renaissance perspective into a convincing aerial view. Hand-drawn views were largely supplanted by aerial photographs taken from airplanes in the mid 20th century.
Jacob Ruppert, Sr., founded his brewery in New York’s Yorkville neighborhood in 1867. In 1886, the founder’s son, Jacob Ruppert, Jr., entered the business as an apprentice; by 1896 he was acting head of the firm, and became president when his father died in 1915. In the early 20th century its Knickerbocker Beer was the best-selling beer in America. The younger Ruppert was a dynamic man whose interests extended beyond managing his business. As a young man, he attained the rank of colonel in the New York National Guard and served as an aide to two New York governors. He served on the New York State Assembly for four consecutive terms (1898-1906) and remained involved in politics through the Tammany Hall political network. However, he is probably best remembered as one of the partners who purchased a baseball team in 1914, renamed it the New York Yankees, and built Yankee Stadium. Ruppert was responsible for many other innovations including adding numbers to the backs of uniforms and building the Yankee farm system. The brewery continued in operation after his death and finally closed in 1965.
Full publication information: “Copyright 1912 by Jacob Ruppert.”
Condition: Generally very good with the usual overall light toning, wear, handling, the colors brighter than many other extant examples which frequently are toned due to exposure of not being framed. Mounted on wooden ebonized rollers as issued. Advertising banner for Knickerbocker Beer in sky area now trimmed, as is typical for numerous extant examples.
References:
Dunlap, David W. “Red-Brick Remnant of Manhattan’s Brewing Past Is Unearthed, Only to Vanish.” 26 March 2014. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/27/nyregion/red-brick-remnant-of-yorkvilles-brewing-past-is-unearthed-only-to-vanish.html (9 February 2022).
“Panoramic view of New York City.” Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/2010587909/ (9 February 2022).
Trimblem, Patrick A. “Ruppert, Jacob.” Encyclopedia.com. 2019. https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/ruppert-jacob (9 February 2022).
