1855
General view - Manhattan - 42nd Street (South).
192 AMERICAN HISTORICAL PRINTS, ETC. building was removed in 1882 to make room for the Mutual Life Insurance Company's building. See Iconography, v. 2, plate 28, for reproduction of the unique contemporary drawing that was presented him by William Burgis and now owned by the Society of Iconology, when it was presented by Mr. Wm. Loring Andrews, with the blessing of the estate of the husband. See also v. 3, plate 130. — At the very moment of the flood (Jan. 11, 1932, 10:30 p.m.), a telephonic call from Mr. Newman, of the Old Print Shop, announces the discovery of a second impression of the supposedly unique print. Later, I have seen the print, which is authenticated, but in this condition, it belongs to the New York family. 1855 — E-138 46.7 x 29.4 Lower left: B. F. Smith, Jun. del. Lower right: W. Wellstood, sc. & Center: NEW YORK, 1855. From the Latting Observatory. Respectfully dedicated to the Citizens of the United States by the Publishers Smith, Fern & Co. 340 Broadway New York. & Entered... 1855 by SMITH, FERN & CO. Line engraving. Date issued: 1855. Reference: p. 312, plate 145, and p. 215. Forty-second Street is shown in the immediate foreground, the Croton Reservoir and the Crystal Palace, Fifth Avenue appears at the left. The Croton Reservoir was built in 1839-42 and covered the eastern half of the blocks bounded by Fifth and Sixth Avenues, 40th and 42nd Streets, the site occupied by The New York Public Library. It had previously (since 1823) constituted part of the "potters' field" The Reservoir was demolished in 1899-1900 to make way for the Library. This view shows the area from the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, looking south. Mount Morris Park is seen between Fifth and Madison Avenue between 36th and 37th Streets. The block has been cut from the east side of Fifth Avenue and 37th Street. The three occupying the block are the corner house of Fifth Avenue and 36th and 37th Streets occupied by Mr. L. M. Dodge. This block front is now one of Mr. Charles F. McKim's masterpieces, now occupied by the New York Public Library. The Crystal Palace was built in 1852-53 for the Exhibition of 1853; the grounds were destroyed by fire in 1858. The Observatory, which was built in 1856, was demolished in 1890. A separate edition with 115 references was issued with the print, and is preserved in the Library, p. 3, p. 716. The only recorded impression is owned by Mr. Edward W. C. Arnold. Reproduced as Plate 93. 1855 — G-15 39.7 x 22.13 Lower left: Painted by J. W. Hill. Lower right: Cha. Parsons Lith. N. Y. Center: PRINTED BY ENIDICOTT & CO. 9 PORTLAND, M. To the Citizens of Portland, this picture is [seal] most respectfully dedicated by the Publishers SMITH BROTHERS & CO. 59 Beekman St., New York. Litho. Date issued: 1855. Last line of imprint partially covered by mat. New York Public Library. American Historical Prints... NY: NYPL, 1932.
Photo from the New York Public Library - Milstein Collection
