Price: $19,500.00
SKU: 65248
PUBLISHER: Published by Wall & Forrest, Civil Engineers, Surveyors & Map Publishers, 250 Pearl St. New York.
MEDIUM: Lithograph,
DATE: 1854.
EDITION SIZE: Wall map. Mounted on linen. 28 1/2 x 41 1/2" plus margins. (72.4 x 105.4 cm).
DESCRIPTION: A beautiful and rare wall map of Sag Harbor.<br><br> The map includes a detailed town plan, including roads, buildings, public places, and the names of many early landowners. Many early buildings are shown in decorative vignettes by the local daguerreotype artist Douglass & Van Scoy. These include the Residence of T.J. Wood Esquire, Huntting's Block, Nassau House, Episcopal Church, St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Montauk Steam Mills, Residence of Eleazar Latham, First Presbyterian Church, Residence of Benjamin Huntting Esquire, Mansion House Hotel, Methodist Episcopal Church, Residence of N.P. Howell, Esquire, Bethel Baptist Church, Oakland Works, and a list of about 170 Subscribers, most of which also identify the occupation of the subscriber (Butcher, Sailmaker, Hair Dresser, Ship Carpenter, Merchant, Insurance, Mason, Teacher, Tailor, Postmaster, Blacksmith, etc.) and 3 of which were apparently from San Francisco.<br> Toward the lower center of the map is a fine testamentary statement describing the virtues of Sag Harbor: “Pleasantly Situated upon the fine harbor of that name the north side of the south branch of the island, about 100 miles from New York by the Long Island Sound or by daily communication of 5 or 6 hours via the L.I. Rail Road and within ¾ hour drive of the Atlantic Ocean long celebrated for its healthy situation and easy access by land or water, it is admirably located for Manufacturing purposes (in addition to the Whale Fishery which is extensively prosecuted) as it is desirable for a place of residence."<br><br> Thirteen of the fourteen vignette illustrations are based on daguerreotypes of two local photographers, Douglass & Van Scoy. Douglass & Van Scoy were recorded in two advertisements, the first ran from April 25, 1855, to June 9, 1855, in The Corrector (Sag Harbor, New York). "Photographs and Daguerreotypes! Photograph Portraits Taken On Paper, beautifully colored, and far surpassing in execution the finest Mezzotint Engraving—are now on exhibition at our Sky Light Daguerreian Gallery. <br><br>These Portraits are taken upon the most approved plan and far surpass anything ever before attempted in the art of picture-taking. Our charges are much less than in New York, and at the same time we flatter ourselves that we can execute photographs equal to any city establishment; to prove which fact we are willing to compare with any taken elsewhere. <br><br>Photographs can be mounted on cards, and sent uninjured, in a common letter envelope, to any part of the world without extra postage. Persons having friends in California or at a distance, who would like to present them with a token of friendship, could not send them a more acceptable gift than one of these beautifully executed portraits of themselves. <br><br>Views—Too much cannot be said in praise of Views in Photography. They need only to be seen to be appreciated. Photograph Portraits set in Lockets, Cases, & c. and mounted on elegant embossed Bristol Board for remitting in letters. Daguerreotypes, as usual, taken in all the various styles of the art. <br><br>We are about taking a Photographic View of Sag-Harbor and shall have a specimen ready in a few days. Those desirous of obtaining a view for themselves or friend will please inform us. The public are respectfully invited to call. Douglass & Van Scoy, Photographic & Daguerrian Artist." <br><br>The second advertisements ran from December 22, 1855, to January 5, 1856, also in The Corrector (Sag Harbor, New York). "Daguerreotypes And Photographs Appropriate And Beautiful Gifts For The Holidays! We have just received from the city a splendid assortment of plain and fancy cases, suitable for Christmas and New Year presents. <br><br>Persons desirous of presenting their friends a really valuable memento, and one that can be kept and prized a lifetime, have now a favorable opportunity. Pictures taken by our New Sky Light, in cloudy as well as clear weather. Douglass & Van Scoy." <br><br> Douglass is not listed in other photographic directories. He may be the same person as Douglas of Parker and Douglas (1849-1850) or more likely C. C. Douglas who references Van Scoy. Isaac S. Van Scoy is listed in 1859 in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry. <br><br>Pioneer American Photographers, 1839-1860 (web site) by Chris Steele. <br><br> The map is quite rare. At least 170 examples were produced (subscribers) the vast majority were likely destroyed as being unprotected wall hangings - exposed to the atmosphere, hot humid summers and cold, moist winters and quickly were destroyed.<br><br> We were unable to locate any examples in any reference work we consulted and no copies are listed in OCLC. <br><br>
ADDITIONAL INFO: Framed to museum quality standards .
CONDITION: The map has been cleaned and restored but retains the original color and patina.
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