Firemen at Work in 1800; from an old Firemens Certificate

New York: D.T. Valentine, 1860. unbound. View. Lithograph. Image measures 6" x 3.5".

This small view depicts firemen attempting to extinguish a large building fire in Manhattan, 1800. Citizens flee while men pass water buckets down the line.

David Thomas Valentine (1801-1869) served as the Deputy to the Clerk of the Common Council for thirty-seven years and began publishing the "Manual for the Corporation of the City of New York" in 1841. The Manuals 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 (truncated) the progress of public works such as Central Park. Popularly called Valentine's Manuals, the texts were richly illustrated with maps, lithographs, and engravings. This view provides a fascinating look at New York City. (Inventory #: 327973)