Philadelphia. A Kite View of Philadelphia and the Sesqui Centennial International Exposition.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1926. First printing. Map. One of the first separately issued pictorial maps published in the United States. The design is inspired by the famed UK pictorial map designer MacDonald Gill. "(This) work owed much to MacDonald Gill's Wonderground map of 1914. The Boston map [and, presumably, the Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. maps], in turn, influenced several American pictorial mapmakers. The contrasting use of blue and yellow, with red for highlights, makes this one of the most striking of all pictorial maps". (Hornsby, pp 121.)
The map is centered on the downtown business district and features important places and events, with inset maps in the corners- New Sweden 1654; Penn's Plan 1682; Melish's Map 1816; Penn's Lots 1698. The map notes: "Let Us Satisfy Our Eyes, I Pray You, With the Memorials and things of fame that do renown this city".
Striking decorative map in vibrant original color. Laid on archival canvas, restoration to a small section in the text panel in the Delaware River. 29.5 x 38.5". The map is represented in the Boston Public Library, Leventhal Collection, G3824.P5A5 1926 .O47; Rumsey 7948.002; Beineke Library, Yale. See Hornsby, Picturing America, page 121. Very good overall. Item #28114
Price: $1,000.00