"Manual of the Corporation of the City of New-York", a complete run of the first series of Valentine's, from 1841, the first year, through 1870.
New York: Wm. C. Bryant, 1841-1870. Hardcover. A complete run of the first series of "Valentine's Manuals", from its beginning in 1841 through 1870. Valentine was the clerk of the Common Council, and was instructed to compile the volumes, that included the city’s annual reports and directories, becoming the first person to preserve New York City’s records. The manuals were published from 1841/2 until Valentine's death in 1866. There was no volume issued in 1867 and the following year, the manuals resumed publication for a few years under successive clerks-Joseph Shannon (1868 and 1869) and John Hardy (1870). "The first five volumes of the Manual are in a class by themselves, they are, and long have been, rare books..." (Hufeland, Otto, Valentine's Manuals, a General Index, [1906], 1981, pp xxvi).
The volumes are a treasure trove of New York City history, updated on an annual basis. Each volume contains a folding map of New York, showing its history, expansion and upgrades to transportation, etc. The handsome lithograph plates of historic buildings record private and public buildings that are largely now lost to us.
All but one of the 28 volumes are in the original brown cloth and are bright copies. Most are also uniformly boxed (3 volumes without boxes). This is a collection that was assembled in the 1960s by an avid collector and has not been tampered with. Maps and illustrations complete according to the "Index to the Illustrations in the Manuals of the Corporation of the City of New York", published by the Society of Iconophiles, 1906 (1981). Also included is the first edition of the "Historical Index of New York Common Council Manuals 1841-1870", (1900), an essential index for historical references.
Several volumes belonged to NY City Alderman; the first volume belonged to Edmund G. Rawson, and others are signed by later Alderman of the City.
There some binding issues - spine tips chipped; boards detached & spine chip on the only leather volume (1849, but the original cloth covers are bound in); back board detached (1859); spine loose (1862); volume shaken, with hinge split (1869).
Overall, an exceptionally nice set of this essential New York City history. Very good overall. Item #20359
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