One of the Earliest Acquirable Views of New York City.
The South Prospect of the City of New York, in America.
$5,500
In stock
Description
This is a fine example of the 1761 London Magazine printing based on William Burgis’ 1718 painting of New York City.
The view presents the east side of the island of Manhattan, seen from Brooklyn, across the East River. Coverage extends from the Battery at the southern tip of Manhattan at left to the wall, which gave Wall St. its name at right, originally built by the Dutch to defend against a potential English landward attack. Churches and other buildings are numbered, corresponding to an index in a short accompanying article (‘Account of New York’) in the London Magazine. The heavily maritime nature of the early settlement is evident at a glance, including the regular transit back and forth between Manhattan and Long Island (Brooklyn).
This view was originally painted by William Burgis in 1718 and shortly after that was engraved by John Harris and printed in England, though this original printing is exceedingly rare. In 1846, a re-strike with minor alterations was printed by Thomas Bakewell, also extremely rare.
The present work was printed in 1761 in the London Magazine in two variants, recognizable by the title (the other ending in ‘North America’) and two printings, distinguished by the words ‘Engraved for the London Magazine 1761’ along the top border (afterward, the view was reprinted several times in the 19th and 20th centuries, including in Valentine’s Manual).
The OCLC only notes examples of the London Magazine variants at the Library of Congress and the National Library of Scotland. We also see examples at Princeton, Yale, and the New York Public Library.
**Co-owned with Geographicus Antique Maps of Brooklyn, NY.
Cartographer(s):
William Burgis was an English artist and engraver active in the American colonies during the early 18th century, particularly between 1717 and 1731. He is known for his detailed topographical engravings of prominent colonial cities, including New York, Boston, and Cambridge.
Burgis’s works are valued for their historical significance, providing detailed visual records of early American urban landscapes. His engravings are preserved in institutions such as the Massachusetts Historical Society and the New York Historical Society.
Condition Description
Very good. Closed diagonal tear extending 6 inches within printed area expertly repaired.
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