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- Memoir
Memoir, Prepared at Request of Committee of Common Council of NY, and Presented to Mayor Celebration of Canals Completion.
Colden, Cadwallader D. and William Stone.
Corporation of New York, ( 1825), New York
24.5 cm. 408, (2) plus 8 facsimiles pp. b/w plates, facsimiles, folding maps, two in color.
Price: $3500
Colden’s work was published to celebrate the opening of the Erie Canal. It is elaborately illustrated with 50 engraved and lithographed plates, 8 facsimiles of testimonial letters, lithographed title to the appendix, 2 large folding hand-colored engraved maps, views (some folding). Some of the foldouts stretch to over 4 feet. It is one of the first books published in the U.S. to be extensively illustrated with lithography. The scenes of Buffalo and Lockport are the first lithographic town views published in the United States and are the earliest examples of the work of George Catlin. See Howes C-562. Peters pp. 228-232. This is a contemporary presentation copy, bound in full straight grain crimson morocco, elaborately gilt, with the blind stamped coat of arms of the City of New York on back board, presented on the front board by C.D. Colden to Charles Wilkes, Esq. Except that they’ve misspelled – Chales Wilkes. Some tanning and foxing to plates. A sumptuous production. All edges gilt.
