Dec 16, 2022 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
3
Estate / Collection: Collection of a New York Surveyor
MAERSCHALK, FRANCIS M.
Barrack Street/Road from Spring Garden to Fresh Water. Manuscript plan in ink on paper, with "Surveyed March 22th 1759/By Fran Maerschalk." 19 1/2 x 28 inches (49 x 70 cm). Loss in upper area costing part of border but none of image, toned, edge creases and short tears, tape repairs on verso, later pencil notations within the image, dark and very well preserved overall.
A beautiful 1759 survey map of today's City Hall Park. This dates from the period when the Upper Barracks were erected in what was then the northernmost reaches of Broad Way, a parade ground known as the "Commons" directly south of the African Burial Ground. At this triangular plateau roads diverged towards the the Bowery and leafy Greenwich Village. In 1757, the Upper Barracks and New Gaol were ordered constructed on the Commons. The Barracks are shown here in elevation and the sheer length of the building is notable. This was the British most ambitious housing project in New York to that time. At 420 feet the Barracks were longer than a city block and tall enough to house 800 men. The Almshouse, built in 1735, is also shown in elevation. The African Burial Ground is here identified simply as Burial Ground. Finely detailed fencing and a few buildings border the map to the north. The Barracks were sparsely used following the Seven Years War but did allow the British to house large populations of military personnel in the city without burdening the citizens and were relied on heavily during the American Revolution. In January 1790, the city voted to demolish the buildings and shortly thereafter City Hall was built. Barrack Street became Chambers Street and the road referencing the very large pond just northeast became Park Row. This is an elegant plan of great English colonial interest.
Sold for $2,500
Estimated at $5,000 - $8,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
Estate / Collection: Collection of a New York Surveyor
MAERSCHALK, FRANCIS M.
Barrack Street/Road from Spring Garden to Fresh Water. Manuscript plan in ink on paper, with "Surveyed March 22th 1759/By Fran Maerschalk." 19 1/2 x 28 inches (49 x 70 cm). Loss in upper area costing part of border but none of image, toned, edge creases and short tears, tape repairs on verso, later pencil notations within the image, dark and very well preserved overall.
A beautiful 1759 survey map of today's City Hall Park. This dates from the period when the Upper Barracks were erected in what was then the northernmost reaches of Broad Way, a parade ground known as the "Commons" directly south of the African Burial Ground. At this triangular plateau roads diverged towards the the Bowery and leafy Greenwich Village. In 1757, the Upper Barracks and New Gaol were ordered constructed on the Commons. The Barracks are shown here in elevation and the sheer length of the building is notable. This was the British most ambitious housing project in New York to that time. At 420 feet the Barracks were longer than a city block and tall enough to house 800 men. The Almshouse, built in 1735, is also shown in elevation. The African Burial Ground is here identified simply as Burial Ground. Finely detailed fencing and a few buildings border the map to the north. The Barracks were sparsely used following the Seven Years War but did allow the British to house large populations of military personnel in the city without burdening the citizens and were relied on heavily during the American Revolution. In January 1790, the city voted to demolish the buildings and shortly thereafter City Hall was built. Barrack Street became Chambers Street and the road referencing the very large pond just northeast became Park Row. This is an elegant plan of great English colonial interest.
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, Dec 16, 2022
