| | Thumbnail | | Creator | Date | Title / Author / Date / Location | Price | | | Description |
| 1447 |  | Details | Pittman, Philip | 1853 |
| Uncommon lithographed map of New Orleans |
|
Pittman, Philip |
|
| 1853 |
| LOC:3 |
| $285.00 | Pittman--Philip | Uncommon-lithographed-map-of-New-Orleans | Uncommon lithographed map ca. 1853 of New Orleans, Louisiana as it appeared in 1770, based upon the reconnaissance of Captain Philip Pittman, a British army engineer. This lithographed mid 19th-century map is the earliest easily obtainable copy of Pittman's 1770 engraved map.
<br></br>
Lithographed by Sarony & Major. Sarony and Major were well known New York lithographers 1846-1853.
<br></br>
Pittman's book was the first English book on the topography, settlements, and inhabitants of the region. In 1764, he traveled the Mississippi River to New Orleans with Major Arthur Loftus.
<br></br>
The map was first printed as an engraved plate in Pittman's "The Present State Of The European Settlements On The Mississippi; with A Geographical Description of that River Illustrated by Plans and Draughts" (J. Nourse, London 1770).
<br></br>
About the site of New Orleans Pittman wrote:
<div class="indenttextblock">
NEW ORLEANS stands on the east side of the river, it has a very easy communication with the northern parts of Louisiana (now West Florida) by means of the Bayou of St. John, a little creek, which is navigable for small vessels drawing less than six feet water, six miles up from the lake Ponchartain, where there is a landing-place, at which the vessels load and un load ; and this is about two miles from the city.
</div>
Pittman described the area around Jackson Square, and St. Louis Cathedral, perhaps New Orleans best-known locations (café du Monde, street artists, carriage rides):
<div class="indenttextblock">
The parade is a large square, in the middle of that part of the town which fronts the river ; in the back part of the square is the church dedicated to St. Louis, a very poor building, framed with wood ; it is in so ruinous a condition that divine service has not been performed in it since the year 1766, one of the king's store houses being at present used for that purpose.
</div> |