Atlas of New York and Vicinity From Actual Surveys by and under the direction of F.W. Beers, assisted by Geo. E. Warner & Others. . .

New York: F. W. Beers, A.D. Ellis & G.C. Soule, 1867. A fantastic atlas of Westchester and Putnam Counties from back when they were mostly farm land, some estates and a few country resorts, when the Bronx River was a formidable body of water, etc. etc. Folio, 46 by 37.5 cm. Title page, blank, Table of Contents, page of Table of Air-Line Distances, followed by 36 maps, paginated or enumerated 2 to 37, all of which are at least full page. Nine of these are folded and open to be much larger, these on a lighter paper. In the back of the atlas, are seven pages of views, capturing several villages, a few significant properties, and one factory (Borden Condensed (truncated) Milk Factory in Brewster). There are one to four such illustrations per page. Fourteen of these illustrations are heliographic engravings, while two are photographs -- one of Sunnyside, Washington Irving's home, and the other, the Old Dutch Church, Sleepy Hollow nearby. The photographs have a dramatic contrast in their light and shadow, an almost painterly quality, a sharpness that can be achieved through filters. Almost all of the illustrations are of Northern Westchester -- Somers, Katonah, North Salem, Bedford -- or Putnam County -- Brewster and Mahopac. This suggests to us that there was an element of promotion going on, as these were surely less well-known areas than Yonkers or New Rochelle. Also, with two of the illustrations showing a large resort hotel in Mahopac, it occurs to us that the property owner probably paid to have the illustrations included in the atlas. Regardless, the illustrations are wonderfully nostalgic, and while those who know these areas will recognize the type of buildings which still survive, their appearance would still be dramatically different because of other development adjacent and all the modern infrastructure that was absent in 1867. Rebacked, with modern black morocco. The original blindstamped boards have a good amount of staining and soiling, as well as a few small spots where the cloth has worn through. On the back cover there is blistering, or places where the cloth has lifted. Modern endpapers. Title page has narrow edge chipping, and a few leaves following have some of the same, but less so. Throughout browning around the perimeter and scattered staining. While not a perfect copy by any means, the maps and illustrations have not lost their integrity and remain handsome. (Inventory #: 007868)