Plan of the City of New York Drawn from Actual Survey by Casimir Th. Goerck and Joseph Fr. Mangin, City Surveyor

New York: D. T. Valentine, 1856. unbound. Map. Uncolored lithograph. Image measures 16" x 20 1/4" inches. This 1856 reissue of the famous 1803 Mangin-Goerck Plan of New York City offers a captivating look into early urban planning. Originally commissioned by the City of New York after the American Revolution, this map proposed an idealized grid for the rapidly growing city. Only a few copies of the original map survived. It includes notable features such as references to 45 buildings, the City Seal, and detailed private dock notations along the East River. Casimir Goerck and Joseph Francois Mangin intended this map as the city's first real estate plan, (truncated) depicting an idealized vision rather than an accurate layout. While largely rejected at the time, the plan influenced later developments in lower Manhattan. Highlighting key landmarks, projected expansions, and streets-some of which never materialized-the Mangin-Goerck Plan ultimately became the de facto blueprint for parts of the city, playing a significant role in New York's cartographic history. This edition was engraved from the original by G. Hayward for the 1856 issue of the "Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York". The map is in good condition with minor toning. Verso repairs along original fold lines, with minor loss near top left border and over reference key. The "Manuals of the Corporation" were directories of extensive historical and contemporary records of New York that included facts about the City of New York, city history, city council information, and reported on the progress of public works such as Central Park. First compiled by D.T. Valentine and popularly called Valentine's Manuals, the texts were richly illustrated with maps, lithographs, and engravings. These books include detailed information on the meetings of the Aldermen Council, ordinances passed, public officials, the city's debts, directories of hospitals, alms houses and schools, ferry schedules, lists of public porters, demographics and census information, and descriptions of historic buildings and streets. Much of the information was gleaned from Dutch and English sources, as processed by Valentine. By this date in the publishing of the manuals - the first was released in 1841 and the last in 1870 - the volumes had become extremely lavish, filled with illustrated and full-color folding maps. It is an excellent source of early New York City history. D.T. Valentine (1801-1869) served as the Deputy to the Clerk of the Common Council for thirty-seven years and took it upon himself to compile the "Manuals", which he updated and published annually from 1841-1866. Joseph Shannon succeeded Valentine as Clerk and published the manuals for 1868 and 1869. The final edition of the manual was published by John Hardy. It is an excellent source of early New York City history. (Inventory #: 323337)