1852 Plan of the City of Washington, After Andrew Ellicott, Antique Map

By Andrew Ellicott (1754-1820) and Pierre Charles L'Enfant (1754-1825). Plan of the City of Washington. Published by Thackara & Vallance, Philadelphia, 1792. Later impression printed on 19th century wove paper. This is a fine 19th century printing of the "official" plan of Washington, D.C. First printed in 1792 by the original publishers, Thackara & Vallance in Philadelphia, this is a later 19th century printing of the fifth recorded engraving of the L’Enfant / Ellicott city plan. The first three issues of this city plan were in published in periodicals, making the fifth edition only the second separately-issued engraving of the plan. In full, the title reads, “Plan of the City of Washington in the Territory of Columbia, ceded by the States of Virginia and Maryland to the United States of America and by them established as the Seat of their Government after the year 1800.” The national capital city is laid out according to a plan originally proposed by Pierre Charles L'Enfant and modified by Andrew Ellicott. L'Enfant was born in Paris, where he trained to be an architect. He came to America in 1777, and served under George Washington as an engineer during the Revolutionary War. In 1791, Washington asked L'Enfant to design the new capital city in the District of Columbia. However, trouble arose between the city and L'Enfant. The City Commissioner needed a finished, printed copy of the plan in order to sell building lots but L'Enfant worked slowly and released only incomplete plans, and proved to be quite obstinate. On instruction from President Washington...

This map, printed in 1840, is a detailed representation of Washington, D.C. in the mid-19th century. The map shows block numbers, wards, and government buildings as well as details o...

This large and detailed plan of Paris was published by Alexandre Vuillemin in 1845. The map conveys a wonderful amount of information and is decorated throughout with pictorial vigne...

Presented is an original map of Albert Boschke's extremely sought-after "Topographical Map of the District of Columbia Surveyed in the Years 1856 ...

Presented is a hand-colored, engraved folding map titled "New Map of the City of New York With Part of Brooklyn & Williamsburg" by J. Calvin Smith. The map was issued bound in the bo...

This engraved print shows a view of the United States Capitol Building, in Washington, D.C. The print depicts the neoclassical building from the northeast orientation, with a bustling street scene in front. The steel engraving is a proof printing, drawn and engraved by Henry Sartain and published in 1858. Plans began in May 1854 to build a new cast-iron dome for the United States Capitol. The then-architect of the Capitol Thomas Walter and his team were sold on the aesthetics of a new dome, as well as the utility of a fire-proof one. A year later, on March 3, 1855, President Franklin Pierce...

Antique map titled 'Het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden'. Map of the Netherlands, with coats of arms of all Dutch provinces. Also includes a small inset map of Luxembourg...

Antique map titled 'The Bosphorus and Dardanelles'. Original map of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles. This map originates from 'Lowry's Table Atlas constructed and engraved from the mos...

Antique map titled 'Groeningue'. Old map of the city of Groningen, the Netherlands. Source unknown, to be determined. Artists and Engravers: Most likely made after J. Harrewijn. ...

Antique map titled 'Eastern Persia'. Original map of Eastern Persia. This map originates from 'Lowry's Table Atlas constructed and engraved from the most recent Authorities' by J.W. ...

Antique map titled 'Perspective Projection of the World on the horizon of London'. Original map of the northern hemisphere. This map originates fro...

Antique map titled 'Perspective Projection of The World on the horizon of London'. Original map of the southern hemisphere. This map originates from 'Lowry's Table Atlas constructe...