About this Item
[22]pp. plus twenty-four lithographs. Quarto. Original patterned green cloth, gilt morocco label on front board. Some wear and chipping to extremities, minor rubbing and soiling. Moderate foxing throughout. A very good copy, wholly unsophisticated. An important and very rare American view book, showing scenes in and around Philadelphia, primarily notable public works and major public buildings, ranging from the University of Pennsylvania to the Eastern Penitentiary, U.S. Mint, Naval Asylum, U.S. Bank, Merchants' Exchange, and more. This issue also includes four additional plates, being north, south, east, and west views from City Hall, forming a panorama. The panorama plates are perhaps the most interesting in the work, and are often lacking. Wild was well known as a landscape artist and panorama painter; shortly after this work came out he moved to St. Louis, where he produced the first lithographically illustrated work issued there, THE VALLEY OF THE MISSISSIPPI ILLUSTRATED. The handsome views in this volume are some of the nicest American city views of the period. There are two issues of this book: the present issue, and another with the title, VIEWS OF PHILADELPHIA. The other issue has only twenty plates, omitting the four panorama plates present here. Howes accords the PANORAMA AND VIEWS OF PHILADELPHIA. a "c" rating, while the other issue rates a "b." The twenty-plate issue is quite scarce; the present issue, with the panorama plates, is extremely rare. HOWES W410, "c." SABIN 103971. Seller Inventory # WRCAM34758B
Contact seller
Report this item
