Andrew Thompson Goodrich’s Map of the Hudson between Sandy Hook & Sandy Hill: with the Post Road between New York and Albany (1820) is a rare and significant cartographic work from the early 19th century.
Sometimes attributed to William Bridges, the map tracks the post road from New York City to Albany, and at the same time provides an exceptional early treatment of the Hudson River. Unlike purely nautical charts or conventional land maps, this multi-sheet map, originally issued in booklet form, provides a hybrid depiction of both the Hudson River and the adjacent post road linking New York City and Albany.
Measuring an impressive 108 inches by 9 inches when fully extended or alternatively appearing in a 14-sheet double-page atlas format, the map is a remarkable example of early American transportation mapping, capturing the commercial, navigational, and infrastructural landscape of the Hudson Valley in an era of rapid development.
The primary function of Goodrich’s map was as a road map, tracing the major post road that paralleled the Hudson River and connected two of New York’s most important urban centers. The map is meticulously detailed, marking taverns, estates, churches, and other notable buildings, which were key landmarks for travelers. Unlike modern road maps that focus primarily on routes, Goodrich’s work presents a narrative of the landscape, showcasing the built environment alongside natural features. The Hudson River itself is depicted with islands, inlets, and riverbanks, making it a valuable reference for travelers who might move between land and water routes.
While the map does include some sparse soundings, it lacks the hydrographic precision necessary for full reliance by navigators. Instead, Hudson River boatmen and steamboat captains likely depended on their practical experience and localized knowledge, much like Mark Twain’s Mississippi River pilots later in the 19th century.
Despite its limited utility as a nautical chart, Goodrich’s Map of the Hudson holds a distinctive place in the cartographic history of the region. Prior to the 1850s, detailed nautical charts of the Hudson River were virtually nonexistent, making this one of the earliest maps to provide any hydrographic information of the river at all. Its importance extends beyond navigation, however; it offers a window into the transportation networks of early 19th-century America, when roads and rivers functioned together as arteries of commerce and communication.
Rarity
The map is scarce on the market.
We note 3 examples at auction and 1 in a dealer catalog in the past 30 years.
Ten examples noted in institutional holdings per OCLC (cataloged variously as a book or as a map).
Provenance
D.H. Barnes (his typographic bookplate). This is likely Daniel H. Barnes.
Daniel H. Barnes (c. 1785 – October 1828) was a renowned educator, naturalist, and theologian. Born in Columbia County, New York, he graduated from Union College in Schenectady and began his career as master of the grammar school attached to the college. He later became principal of Poughkeepsie Academy, where he earned a reputation for academic excellence before accepting an invitation to lead a collegiate institution in Cincinnati, Ohio. Health concerns led him back to New York City, where he co-founded the New York High School in 1824, alongside Professor John Griscom. He was offered the presidency of Columbian College (now George Washington University) but declined, choosing instead to focus on his pioneering work in secondary education.
Barnes was also a leading naturalist, particularly in conchology, zoology, and geology. He was an active member of the Lyceum of Natural History in New York, where he published numerous scientific papers. His geological section of the Canaan Mountains was one of the earliest systematic geological surveys in the region, and his memoirs on freshwater bivalves (Unio and Alasmodonta) were foundational in American malacology. His monographs on Chiton species and Batrachian animals further cemented his reputation in zoology. His conchological work was internationally recognized, with Baron de Ferussac citing Barnes’ research as a crucial correction to errors in Alexander von Humboldt’s Zoological Studies of Mexico. His meticulous descriptions of new mollusk species and taxonomic refinements remain valuable contributions to 19th-century natural history.
William Bridges (1771 - July 10, 1814) was one of the foremost surveyors and mapmakers of early New York City. A native of England, Bridges probably arrived in the United States in either 1805 or 1806. This is known from his earliest record in the States, when he advertised as a tutor for architectural drawing from young men and women, in 1806. In that year he was also appointed City Surveyor for New York.
Bridges had a complicated and far from clean personal and professional record. In politics, he was a Federalist, and he in the course of his political activities he was accused of election fraud for apparently trying to force others to vote for his candidates.
In his professional life, he was dogged by similar controversy. Bridges is remembered today first as the publisher of the 1811 Commissioner's Plan of New York, which famously gave the city its grid. That map has been called "the single most important document in New York City's development" (Augustyn & Cohen, Manhattan in Maps). However, Bridges was not actually responsible for the surveys that resulted in the map; those were done by another man altogether, John Randel Jr. (1787-1865). Bridges enraged Randel by publishing the Commissioner's Plan crediting only himself. This resulted in a series of public arguments that lasted until Bridges's death in 1814. Despite the nefarious way in which he procured and published the map, Bridges managed to defend its copyright.
Bridges also issued a copy of the Mangin-Goerk Plan of New York, on which he similarly only credited himself.
In less than a decade in New York City, Bridges had a considerable influence on the history of the city, despite (or maybe because of) his dubious personal character.
For more on Bridges, see Marguerite Holloway's book The Measure of Manhattan.