Description
George Glazer Gallery’s copies of these views were included in The Greatest Grid, an exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York (December 2011 through July 15, 2012) of maps documenting the development of the grid system of mapping Manhattan. They are also illustrated and described in the accompanying book to the exhibition. According to the exhibition book, the prints show the “types of edifices that lined the thoroughfare in 1879.” It further points at that by the end of the 19th century, Fifth Avenue had become “synonymous with luxury living for Americans throughout the country. Members of the city’s elite slowly built their elegant homes and institutions up the avenue, settling the area between 23rd and 34th Streets by 1868 and moving up to 59th through the next decade” (Ballon et al.). Read more about The Greatest Grid exhibition and book, or order the book here.
John Bachmann, a German immigrant to the United States, was an artist and lithographer, credited with coining the term bird’s-eye view, and was a prolific and prominent creator of such views. His first such panoramas were of Civil War battle areas in 1861. Bachmann produced a variety of bird’s-eye views of New York City from different vantage points, some of which are on our web site.
Max Williams was a prolific New York City publisher, active at the turn of the century. He is generally known for republishing earlier works, including many famous ones from the original lithographic stones of Currier & Ives.
Condition: Generally very good with the usual light toning, soiling, wear, soft creases. A few marginal tears, professionally restored. Margins variously trimmed on each, still large.
References:
Ballon, Hilary, ed. The Greatest Grid: The Master Plan of Manhattan 1811-2011. New York: Museum of the City of New York and Columbia University Press, 2012. Items 116 and 117. pp. 133-134.
“Commercial Mapping.” Civil War Maps. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/cwmhtml/cwmcm.html (6 May 2002).
“MAP #: 361B5.” Maryland State Archives. 23 May 1996. http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/speccol/1399/reports/html/361b5.html (6 May 2002)
“Rockefeller Center with Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas.” Museum of the City of New York. http://www.mcny.org/abbott/a189.htm (6 May 2002).
“There’s no stoppin’ the Croton from hoppin.'” Forgotten NY: Street Scenes. 2002. http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/Croton/croton.html (6 May 2002).
