Beschreibung:

Title: Memoir, Prepared at the Request of a Committee of the Common Council of the City of New York, and Presented to the Mayor of the City, at the Celebration of the Completion of the New York Canals Author: Colden, Cadwallader D. Place: New York Publisher: Printed by Order of the Corporation of New York Date: 1825-[1826] Description: v, [5], 408, [2] pp. Illustrated with hand-colored maps, portraits, engraved & lithographic plates, being 48 plates in all, including 2 not listed in the binder's directions; plus 8 facsimile manuscript letters bound at end; includes 6 plates by George Catlin 9½x7¾, rebound in modern calf, new endpapers. Fiirst Edition. One of the first recorded American books illustrated with lithographs, this one being produced from Anthony Imbert's company, following Grammar of Botany produced by Barnet & Doolittle in 1822 & a plate produced for the Analectic Magazine in 1819. A highly important book, commemorating the greatest feat in early American engineering history, the opening of the Erie Canal connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, among some 400 miles or more of canal-building. Also contains magnificent lithographic plates drawn by George Catlin including the supurbly illustrated Lockport plates "Deep Cutting" and "Entrance to the Harbour," along with views of Buffalo, and notably a number of fire engines and engine companies. Additionally there are the hand-colored folding maps, one of the United States with the West dominated with a huge Oregon Territory and Mexico (which includes New Albion), and a map of the state of New York, also hand-colored. Peters, America..., pp.228-232; Pearce, Early... 66; Howes C562 - Lot Amendments Condition: Foxing to contents, more severe to the engraved plates than the lithographs; large folding lithograph of the fleet with 4x12" piece missing, with some old tape repairs; map of New York with tape repair; Cohoes Falls plate with 3x2" piece missing from top, mostly marginal; overall very good. Item number: 177678