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This 1863 map of New York City and its vicinity, published by M. Dripps, is a scarce and detailed depiction of the city during a period of significant urban expansion. Based on Dripps’ landmark 1851 wall map, this later edition reflects the rapid development of mid-19th century Manhattan, most notably incorporating Central Park in minute detail according to the plan by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, with updates reflecting later alterations.
The map extends from the southern tip of Manhattan up to Randall’s Island and the neighborhood of Manhattanville, while also covering parts of Brooklyn, Queens, Hoboken, and Jersey City. Streets are meticulously drawn, and some individual buildings are identifiable. The names and tracts of Manhattan’s original landowners are superimposed over the city’s grid, offering a glimpse into the historical land divisions that shaped early New York. Notably, where Columbia University now stands, the map marks the location of a 19th-century lunatic asylum.
In addition to its detailed depiction of Manhattan, the map provides extensive information about the surrounding waters. Depth soundings are marked in both the Hudson and East Rivers, and the ferry routes connecting Manhattan with New Jersey and Long Island are shown. The map captures the extensive ferry lines that were vital to the city’s transportation network at the time.
One of the map’s distinguishing features is the ornate cartouche in the upper right corner, featuring the seal of the City of New York. The seal includes a Native American figure and a colonial sailor, symbolizing the city’s historical connections to both indigenous people and European settlers. Maritime symbols, such as a beaver, flour barrels, and windmills, represent New York’s economic foundations in trade and industry.
Rarity
This edition is apparently rare.
While a similar example is cataloged by David Rumsey, no copies have been noted at auction or in dealer catalogs. A slightly later edition was issued with a different title (“New York and Vicinity”), but it retains the original seal.
![[Brooklyn] Manhattan Beach Estates - Map of Property situated in the Borough of Brooklyn](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/80730.jpg)
![[ New York City Wall Map ] Map Showing the High and Low Water Mark and the Original City Grants of Lands Under Water Made to Various Parties from 1686 to 1873, extending from Battery to Fifty-first Street, Hudson and East Rivers, New York City Also The Several Pier and Bulk-Head Lines Established from 1750 to 1873. Made Under the Direction of the Department of Docks 1873](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/96356.jpg)