Treasures of The New York Public Library

Manhattan

The map shows Manhattan from 42nd Street south to the Battery, with Governors Island as well as parts of Jersey City, Hoboken, Williamsburg, and Brooklyn. Drawn and engraved by H. Wilkes, the lovely inset views depict (clockwise from the top left corner): a New York steamer; Brooklyn; City Hall; the Custom House; the Narrows from Fort Hamilton; and New York from Williamsburg.<br><br><br />
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John Rapkin (fl. 1845-51). <i>New York</i>. London; New York: John Tallis & Co., ca. 1850.<br><br />
The New York Public Library, The Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division.<br><br><br />
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"Extravagance in Everything": New York City at Mid-Century

In 1850, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street was still on the northern edge of the city, and a favorite Sunday pastime was to stroll on top of the walls of the massive Croton Reservoir, the site of the future New York Public Library, and enjoy a superb view of the city.<br><br><br />
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Augustus Fay. <i>View of the Croton Water Reservoir, New York City</i>. Gouache, ca. 1850.<br><br />
The New York Public Library, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, Print Collection, I.N. Phelps Stokes Collection.<br><br><br />
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Bucolic Manhattan: The Future Site of The New York Public Library

Building under construction, 750 Third Avenue (East 47th Street - East 48th Street), December 17, 1957.<br><br><br />
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Wurts Brothers. From a collection of photographs of New York City.<br><br />
The New York Public Library, Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy.<br><br><br />
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Magnificent New York: The Wurts Brothers

Alexander Alland. Patience, the northernmost of the two New York Public Library Lions (Fifth Avenue between 41st Street and 42nd Street). Photograph, ca. 1930s.<br><br><br />
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Selection from the Photographic Views of New York City Collection, 1900-1939.<br><br />
The New York Public Library, Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy.<br><br><br />
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Demolish, Build: Photographic Views of NYC, 1870s-1970s

In 1913, Eugene Quackenbush, the surveyor and draughtsman of the Viele map, recorded his recollections that this "topographical map of the city of New York ... was reproduced from one previously made by General Egbert L. Viele with such corrections, changes and additions which existed at the time and which changes were based on my personal surveys, and covered the entire territory which was not then built up."<br><br><br />
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Egbert Ludovicus Viele. ["œWater map" of Manhattan]. Color lithographs. From Viele's <i>Topographical Atlas of the City of New York</i>. New York: E. L. Viele, 1874.<br><br />
The New York Public Library, The Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division.<br><hr><br>

Viele's Famous Topographical Atlas of the City of New York