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  • To His Excellency Sr. Henry Moore, Bart., Captain General and Governour in Chief in & over the Province of New York & the territories. . . this plan of the city of New York is most humbly inscribed by His Excellency's most obedient servant, Bern'd Ratzen.

To His Excellency Sr. Henry Moore, Bart., Captain General and Governour in Chief in & over the Province of New York & the territories. . . this plan of the city of New York is most humbly inscribed by His Excellency's most obedient servant, Bern'd Ratzen.

  • ARTIST: Bernard Ratzer

  • MEDIUM: Copper plate engraving,

    DATE: 1766-67, (c.1769).

  • EDITION SIZE: Image size 23 x 34 7/8" (58.5 x 88.7 cm).

  • DESCRIPTION: A rare first state of one of the most important eighteenth-century maps of New York City. “Made just prior to the Revolution, the Ratzen plan is the most accurate and useful survey of New York then circulating.” Deak. This plan is normally referred to as the “Ratzen Plan” due to an engraver's error, misspelling the cartographer's name in the title cartouche. The map is based on the surveys of the British engineer, Bernard Ratzer. Drawn in 1767, engraved by the noted English engraver, Thomas Kitchen, and first issued in 1769. A second state, with the imprint of Thomas Jefferys and William Faden added below the lower left neat line was issued in 1776. The plan shows the topography and existing streets, avenues, estates, farmlands, wharfs, and forts. A small portion of Brooklyn, here entitled “Part of Long or Nassau Island” is shown with the important “Brookland Ferry” indicated. A numbered key identifies thirty-one public buildings, churches, and markets.

  • ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • CONDITION: Good condition, save for a printer's crease through the reference key below the cartouche. Left margin added. Overall, a very nice impression. Black and white.

  • REFERENCE: Stokes, Iconography, v. 1, plate 42, pp. 342-3. Stokes, American Historical Prints, 1767, B-98; Deak, Picturing America, 120; Cohen & Augustyn, Manhattan in Maps, pp. 73-77; Haskell. Manhattan Maps, 319.

  • CATEGORIES: Maps