Manual of the Corporation for 1868
hardcover
1868 · New York
by SHANNON, Joseph
New York: Joseph Shannon, 1868. hardcover. very good. Illustrated manual of the Corporation of the City of New York. 912 pages with frontispiece, 2 fold out maps and 24 lithographed diagrams and views. Brown buckram with gold stamped spine and covers. Minor scuffing to cover, head and tail of spine. Pages 487-490 loose. Thick 8vo. Corners slightly bumped minor scuffs to cover. Maps and illustrations in excellent condition and 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. New York: 1868. First edition, rare. The "Manuals of the Corporation" were directories of extensive historical and contemporary records of New York first compiled by D.T. Valentine. 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. Notable illustrations in this edition include a view of "Spuyten Duyvel Creek" and "South East View of the City of New York 1768". Maps in this edition include "[Map of] New-York City County, and Vicinity" and "This Plan of the City of New York...was made for the purpose of shewing the progress and extent of the Great Fire which happened in the 1776...". D.T. Valentine (1801-1869) served as the Deputy to the Clerk of the Common Council for thirty-seven years without being promoted to Clerk. Valentine 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. Many copies were personalized for prominent officials. This compendium is an excellent source of early New York City history. (Inventory #: 289275)