Apr 16, 2026 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
183
Map of property auctioned under the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund
Collection of a New York Surveyor
[MAP - NEW YORK CITY]
[ENDICOTT AND CO.] Map of 314 Valuable Lots of Land Belonging to the Corporation of the City of New York To be sold at Public Auction under direction of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, at 12 O'clock at noon on Tuesday the 21st of January 1845. Folding lithograph map, backed on linen. 26 x 37 1/2 inches (66 x 95 cm). Wide margins, splitting to the central fold and some losses, end to end horizontal splitting with some losses, creasing throughout, other small losses to extremities, some dust soiling and paper repairs at lower corners, printer's stamps at upper right corner and left margin, show-through of ink caption from verso, later pencil annotations.
An expansive map of the Bloomingdale neighborhood (present day Bryant Park). A prominent feature of the map is the Croton Distributing Reservoir on Forty-Second and Sixth Avenue. It was designed by John Jervis and James Renwick in the Egyptian Revival style. By 1877, the reservoir had become obsolete and there were immediate calls for its demolition. Its detractors, including The New York Times, called it “useless, a hideous object to the sight, and a blight upon the neighborhood.” By 1900, the reservoir was demolished. The main branch of the New York Public Library rose in its place by 1911. The most substantial, exposed granite walls of the original reservoir foundation can be seen near the visitor center and auditorium on the lower level.
In 1845, the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund in New York City actively managed municipal debt, publishing detailed reports of revenues, expenditures, and stock transactions under Comptroller John Ewen. The fund, supported by revenue sources such as quit-rents, was designed to ensure the redemption of the city's long-term debt, including obligations related to infrastructure projects.
Sold for $416
Estimated at $300 - $500
Includes Buyer's Premium
Collection of a New York Surveyor
[MAP - NEW YORK CITY]
[ENDICOTT AND CO.] Map of 314 Valuable Lots of Land Belonging to the Corporation of the City of New York To be sold at Public Auction under direction of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, at 12 O'clock at noon on Tuesday the 21st of January 1845. Folding lithograph map, backed on linen. 26 x 37 1/2 inches (66 x 95 cm). Wide margins, splitting to the central fold and some losses, end to end horizontal splitting with some losses, creasing throughout, other small losses to extremities, some dust soiling and paper repairs at lower corners, printer's stamps at upper right corner and left margin, show-through of ink caption from verso, later pencil annotations.
An expansive map of the Bloomingdale neighborhood (present day Bryant Park). A prominent feature of the map is the Croton Distributing Reservoir on Forty-Second and Sixth Avenue. It was designed by John Jervis and James Renwick in the Egyptian Revival style. By 1877, the reservoir had become obsolete and there were immediate calls for its demolition. Its detractors, including The New York Times, called it “useless, a hideous object to the sight, and a blight upon the neighborhood.” By 1900, the reservoir was demolished. The main branch of the New York Public Library rose in its place by 1911. The most substantial, exposed granite walls of the original reservoir foundation can be seen near the visitor center and auditorium on the lower level.
In 1845, the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund in New York City actively managed municipal debt, publishing detailed reports of revenues, expenditures, and stock transactions under Comptroller John Ewen. The fund, supported by revenue sources such as quit-rents, was designed to ensure the redemption of the city's long-term debt, including obligations related to infrastructure projects.
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, Apr 16, 2026
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Successful Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 16, 2026 Surpasses Expectations
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Thomas Jefferson Letter Commenting on Toussaint Louverture Achieves $32,000
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
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We Invite You to Contact Us for Complimentary Auction Estimates of Your Collection
NEW YORK, NY – Doyle's auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 16, 2026 saw international competition drive strong results throughout the sale and a total that surpassed expectations.
Thomas Jefferson Letter on Toussaint Louverture
Highlighting the sale was a fascinating 1802 letter from Thomas Jefferson as president to Maryland Governor John Francis Mercer that achieved a strong $32,000. The remarkable letter captures a rare, candid moment in which Jefferson assesses, with striking clarity, the arrest of Toussaint Louverture, a leader of the Haitian Revolution, by French General Charles LeClerc, Napoleon’s brother-in-law. Jefferson perceptively warned that LeClerc’s actions would erode trust and likely spark further racial conflict—an insight that proved remarkably accurate. Beyond its sharp political foresight, the letter reflects the broader anxiety the Haitian Revolution provoked in the United States, which contributed to decades of diplomatic isolation of Haiti.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
