Beschreibung:

The City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania North America; as it appeared in the Year 1800. Second Edition 1804 consisting of Twenty Copper-Plates.
Springland Cot, near Neshaminy Bridge on the Bristol Road, Pennsylvania”: [1804]. Oblong folio (358 x 440 mm). Engraved title, letterpress introduction and plate list, engraved Plan of the City, 20 engraved plates, 2 pp. letterpress Subscriber’s list, printed on paper watermarked “T. Gilpin & Co. Brandywine.” Later olive green panelled morocco by C. J. Mensing, ruled and stamped in gilt, a.e.g. Housed in a morocco-backed clamshell box. Condition : repaired tear in the lower margin of one plate, else minor finger soiling; light wear and staining. Provenance : Florence Foerderer Tonner (bookplate); Martin Snyder. Plate list, in order of appearance: [Plate 1] The City of Philadelphia [engraved title-page]. [Plate 2] The City & Port of Philadelphia, on the River Delaware from Kensington. [Plate 3] Plan of the City of Philadelphia. [Plate 4] Arch-street Ferry. [Plate 5] Second Street North from Market St wth Christ Church. [Plate 6] High Street, with the First Presbyterian Church. [Plate 7] High Street Market. [Plate 8] High Street, From the Country Market-place. [Plate 9] New Lutheran Church, in Fourth Street. [Plate 10] High Street, from Ninth Street. [Plate 11] An Unfinished House, in Chesnut Street. [Plate 12] Library and Surgeons Hall, in Fifth Street. [Plate 13] The Theatre in Chesnut Street. [Plate 14] Old State House, Congress Hall and Town Hall. [Plate 15] Back of the State House. [Plate 16] State House Garden. [Plate 17] Jail in Walnut Street. [Plate 18] Pennsylvania Hospital, in Pine Street. [Plate 19] Bank of the United States, in Third Street. [Plate 20] Bank of Pennsylvania, South Second Street. [Plate 21] The Water Works, in Centre Square. [Plate 22] Schuylkill Bridge High Street. rare uncolored example of the revised second edition of birch’s views. Soon after publication of the first edition, Birch began work on the second. The work, however, was not merely a reissue of the former, but included re-engravings of six plates as well as the addition of an important new one. Among the new engravings was a more lively depiction of the interior of the High Street Market, as well as changes to the views of Congress Hall, the State House Garden, the Bank of Pennsylvania and the Jail. Drastically changed is the view of the now completed Chesnut Street Theatre, which bears the name of the engraver (and performer) George Fox Most significantly, however, was the addition of a plate not found in the first edition: a view of the Market Street Permanent Bridge. At the time of the engraving, the bridge was still under construction, though it is depicted here complete with its ornate roof. In all, the second edition contains the above seven new views, as well as second states of the title, frontispiece, plan and eleven other plates and a third state of High Street from Country Market-place. The second edition garnered more than 120 new subscribers, including Stephen Girard and Robert Fulton and almost 300 in total. “Publication of the second edition of the Philadelphia Views brought the work to its high point” (Snyder, William Birch: His Philadelphia Views). While generally considered more desirable in its colored state, this uncolored copy reveals the beauty and artistry of Birch’s work, with dark impressions of most plates. The second edition appears to be more rare than the first, with no copies appearing at auction in the last quarter century and OCLC recording only the copy at Winterthur. This copy with esteemed provenance to Martin Snyder and Florence Foerderer Tonner of Glen Foerd. Tonner’s extensive library included a large collection of William Blake (now at the Philadelphia Museum of Art), as well as an impressive collection of Bibles largely procured for her by Charles Sessler. Snyder, "William Birch: His Philadelphia Views" in PMHB, vol. 73, no. 3.