|
||
|
|
|
|
Rare Birdseye View of San Francisco, engraved by Edward Bosqui, perhaps the best lithographer in California during the 19th Century.
This schematized view to the west shows six ships in the harbor and recreates the simple street patterns of early San San Francisco. Clay, Kearney [sic], Washington and Montgomery Streets are identified. The buildings are keyed by thirty-five numbers to a printed list below the illustration with letter references to ships such as the USS Portsmouth, etc. Two arrows are shown for the Trail to the Presidio and Trail to Mission Dolores.
Printed at lower right of image: Designed & Copied from Views Taken at the Time & Published by [on stone] Capt. W.F. Swasey [facsimile signature]. A Continuous Resident since 1845. Printed below the title: We the Undersigned Hereby Certify That This Picture is a Faithful and Accurate Representation of San Francisco As It Really Appeared in March 1847 [signed by] J.D. Stevenson Commanding 1st Regt. of N.Y. Vols. In the War with Mexico the War with Mexico, Genl. M.G. Vallejo, George Hyde First Alcalde Dist. of San Francisco 1846-7 [the three names appear as facsimile signatures].
This lithograph is not dated but is known to have been printed much later. An example dated 1884 exists, hence this example is probably earlier. Ordinarily, this would be a $3,000 to $5,000 view.
