THE "STANDARD GUIDE" READY REFERENCE MAP OF WASHINGTON.
The "Standard Guide" Ready Reference Map of Washington.
Multi-color wax lithograph, 1901-1904.
Image size 18 x 23" (45.7 x 58.3 cm) plus margins.
Good condition and color. LOCATION: New York City
Inventory Number: 86526
Price: SOLD Publisher : Published by the Foster & Reynolds Co. N.Y. & B.S. Reynolds Co., Washington. Printed by the Matthews-Northrup Co. A fine early, 20th-century guide map to the Nation's Capital. On January 24, 1791, President George Washington announced the congressionally designated permanent location of the national capital, a diamond-shaped ten-mile tract at the confluence of the Potomac and Eastern Branch Rivers. The original survey of the 100-square-mile diamond shaped "district" was undertaken by Andrew Ellicott and Benjamin Banneker (a free slave). In March of 1791, Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant was appointed by George Washington to prepare the plan for the city itself with Ellicott as his assistant. Unfortunately, L'Enfant turned out to be very difficult to work with. Eventually, both Washington and Jefferson became disgusted with L'Enfant's obstinacy, which led to his being suspended in 1792 and outright termination in 1793. Ellicott took over the project using L'Enfant's plan as a base. Retains but removed from original covers. Maps