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Superb Early Map of Toronto, With Extensive Early Manuscript Annotations.

Beautiful hand-colored engraved map of the Township of York (present-day Toronto, Canada), published in Toronto in 1851.

This is one of the great maps from the 1850s Toronto boom era, which lasted from approximately 1851 to 1857. This era saw a dramatic increase in real estate speculation; this example of the map no doubt played a role in that activity, as it was heavily used by a contemporary owner (or owners) who had a keen interest in real estate owners and transactions and annotated the map extensively.

The printed map is replete with information about businesses, including tanneries, taverns, distilleries, mills, and the like. This information has been further augmented with hand-written additions, noting, for instance, a paper mill a few miles from the city center. Furthermore, there are hundreds if not thousands of buildings rendered as small black rectangles on the map.

Carlton, Lambton, Yorkville, Weston, and York Mills appear as small gatherings of buildings on the map. Old Toronto is labeled "City of Toronto", and landmarks, such as the University of Toronto, are labeled within its limits.

Isobel Ganton and Joan Winearls, in their Mapping Toronto's First Century 1787-1884, provide the following context for the 1851 Browne map:

The early 1850s were a time of general prosperity and rapid growth. Hoping for quick profits, speculators bought and sold land, subdivided and resubdivided lots. This land "boom" flourished until 1857, when the market collapsed.

The maps made during the boom years reflect the commercial enthusiasm of the times in many ways. They were produced to advertise property for sale, to promote the city, and to record new subdivisions. The map-makers themselves were no longer primarily civil servants or military engineers, but provincially licensed surveyors who ran their own businesses. In addition, this map was printed locally, an indication that the printing industry in Toronto had come of age.

York Township had more forest in 1851 than most townships. The delay in clearing the land was due in part to the number of lots held as investments by prominent Toronto families. In addition, the ravines of the extensive river systems made many areas difficult to farm.

Note that more township road allowances had been opened, while many early roads that did not follow the grid system had disappeared. Many villages, all later absorbed into the metropolitan area, had sprung up on the outskirts of the city.

The map was engraved and printed by Jonathan Ellis, in Toronto.

The map is docketed in pencil by "E.W. Bauting" (sp?) about whom we can, unfortunately, find no information.

Rarity

No examples located in RBH. OCLC does not record a physical example (only one internet resource), however, there would appear to be examples at the Toronto Reference Library, the City of Toronto Archives, and Toronto Public Library.

This is possibly a revised state, as there is some evidence that the plate has been reworked in a number of places.