PUBLISHER: Published by Harrison Hall, Philadelphia.
MEDIUM: Engraving
DATE: 1818
EDITION SIZE: Image size 12 5/16 x 19 9/16" (31.2 x 49.8
DESCRIPTION: A scarce Revolutionary War battle plan, depicting the action at Bunkers Hill on June 17, 1775, based upon an original sketch by Henry De Berniere. De Berniere was a supposed intelligence officer in the Royal 14th Regiment under command of General Thomas Gage. He was known to have made drawings and maps of various areas which he traveled to in the American Colonies, including Niagara Falls, a view of Fort Erie and Fort Niagara.<br><br> Long after the wars end, Berniere's manuscript was apparently discovered in a trunk and engraved for inclusion in the Analectic Magazine in 1818. This detailed plan provides topographical details of the Peninsula, including the layout of Charlestown itself, roads, dwellings, and both Bunkers and Breeds Hill. The positions of the American and British forces are shown along with lines of fire from both ship and shore. A lettered reference key identifies 18 positions and or troop movements. There seems to be two different printings based on the manuscript. One was engraved by Thomas in Boston, the other, this example, bears no engravers name other than a “G.F.” in the lower left corner under the neat line. This may or may not be an engravers initials. Below the reference key is “Entered according to act of Congress the 10th day of February 1818 by Harrison Hall, of the state of Pennsylvania. Harrison Hall was a American magazine publisher, engraver and bookseller in Philadelphia. He was the publisher of The Port Folio, the oldest literary magazine in America. It is likely this map was issued as a separate rather then for inclusion in a periodical as it is printed via Chine colle, a process of printing on a thin sheet of paper which is applied to a heaver paper at the time of printing.<br><br> The original, with manuscript annotations by Maj. General Dearborn, resides in the American Philosophical Society.<br><br>
ADDITIONAL INFO:
CONDITION: Good condition save for small stain in lower portion of image, between M and I in the Mistic River title. B/W
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