Estate / Collection: Collection of a New York Surveyor

[MAP - FINANCIAL DISTRICT]
SMITH, GEO[RGE] B.; after BRIDGES and POPPLETON. Map of Property on Dey and Washington Streets of the East of Bonsall... [New York]: "Copied from the original map of Bridges + Poppleton / April 9th 1822 by Geo. B. Smith / City Surveyor." Manuscript map on paper, hand colored in outline, modern linen backing. 16 1/2 x 26 3/8 inches (42 x 67 cm). Dust soiling along right-hand margin, a few losses in margins, a few closed tears, later pencil annotations to recto and red crayon to backing.

This survey map, which is oriented to the south, depicts a property located along Dey Street from Washington to West Streets. In today's city, this location is near the North Tower Pool in World Trade Center Plaza - these sections of Washington and Dey Streets were open until construction began there in 1967. The map juxtaposes the earlier docks, called Bonsal's Wharf, with the newer West Street, which had been built on landfill. The property that is being surveyed belonged to the Estate of Robert Fulton (1765 - 1815), the famous American marine engineer who had designed the first commercially successful steamboat as well the first practicable submarine.