Views of Philadelphia
Title
Views of Philadelphia
Description
Collection of prints from the various editions and restrikes of Birch's "Views of Philadelphia," originally published in 1800 as The City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania North America; as it appeared in the year 1800. Four editions of the views, purchased through subscription and totaling 44 unique plates including a map of the city and title page with vignette, were published by William Birch in Philadelphia from 1800 until 1828. First and largest edition contained 29 plates, the pictorial views drawn by Thomas Birch and engraved by Samuel Seymour between 1798 and 1800; with the map and title page executed by script engraver William Barker. Bookseller Robert Campbell is listed as a seller on many of these plates, but appears to have been disassociated with the project before publication of the bound volume. Second edition of 22 plates was published in 1804. Third edition of 14 plates was published in 1809. Fourth edition of 12 plates was published between 1827 and 1828. The first and second edition were printed by Philadelphia printer, Richard Folwell. The later editions, predominately completed by William Birch alone, contained reissues of selected plates from the first edition as well as new engravings of prominent city structures erected after 1800. In the 1840s restrikes of five plates were produced by bookseller Robert Desilver, and in the 1860s, twelve by the antiquarian John McAllister, Jr; many of the restrikes originally published in the fourth edition. Collection also contains the second edition copper plate of the Bank of Pennsylvania, and the fourth edition copper plate of The Late Theatre in Chestnut Street., Series of late 18th and early 19th-century views of principal sections of the city of Philadelphia including primary streets, government buildings, local landmarks, and financial, religious, educational, and benevolent institutions. The series, the first of its kind in the United States, was created to attract new citizens and to illustrate to an international audience the vitality of the nation's premiere city. The views focus on structures, but also contain lively depictions of daily street life in Philadelphia. Plates depict Philadelphia's Delaware River port with the Penn Treaty Tree; several street views including Arch Street, High (Market) Street, and Third Street; city markets; city banks, such as the Bank of the U.S.; the State House (Independence Hall); Congress Hall; prominent churches, such as Christ Church; Pennsylvania Hospital; Library and Surgeon's Hall; Chestnut Street Theatre; the Alms House; Walnut Street Jail; the Water-Works; and the Schuylkill Bridge., See S. Robert Teitelman's Birch's views of Philadelphia. (Philadelphia: The Free Library of Philadelphia, 1982, rev. 2000)., Snyder, "William Birch: His Philadelphia views," The Pennsylvania magazine of history and biography 73 (July, 1949), p. 271-315., Snyder, "Birch's Philadelphia views: New discoveries," The Pennsylvania magazine of history and biography 88 (April, 1964), p. 164-173., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., William Birch, trained in England, was a Philadelphia engraver, miniaturist, and enamel painter. He also engraved and published in 1804 "The Country Seats of the United States of North America."
Creator
Birch, William Russell, 1755-1834
Date
1800-1860, bulk 1800
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Birch's views [Sn 1 - Sn 43]
[Miscellaneous prints from the Joe Freedman collection of Philadelphia ephemera] [graphic].
Title
[Miscellaneous prints from the Joe Freedman collection of Philadelphia ephemera]
Description
Collection of miscellaneous prints, including promotional novelties, vignettes, views, proof sheet of banknotes, a photograph reproduction, and a postcard. Imagery depicts City Hall, Continental Hotel, Girard Fire Insurance Company, interior of Independence Hall, "Bird's Eye View from Lemon Hill" showing the Fairmount Water Works, Market Street and Delaware Avenue, the storefront of optician William Y. McAllister and Alex. R. Harper & Bro., watches (728 Chestnut), and vignettes showing miners at work, and a view of laborers at work in a stone quarry juxtaposed with a view of Native American persons. Also includes a 1777 German calendar illustration showing Philadelphia along the Delaware River (.193x); an 1804? lottery ticket for the African Church of St. Thomas (.190x); a ca. 1833 proof sheet of bank notes in German for The Western Bank of Philadelphia; a ca. 1830 textile sewn on paper and illustrated with a genre scene in front of the "House of Refuge, Philadelphia"; a pocket-size political print depicting Philadelphia mayor-elect Morton McMichael holding a fox by its tail to satirize his 1865 election win over Daniel M. Fox; and a 1919 calligraphic envelope (in color inks) addressed to Mrs. Sarah Zook, Temple University Hospital, Broad & Ontario Streets, Phila, Pa. Some prints also depict street and pedestrian traffic. Vignettes are possibly specimens for illustrations on certificates., Title supplied by cataloger., Artists, photographers, and publishers include C. G. Childs, W. N. Jennings, and The Rotograph Co., P.2013.87.190x and 193x in frames and housed separately in phase box., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
Date
[ca. 1830-ca. 1950, bulk ca. 1860-ca. 1890]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Freedman Collection - Box 2 - Miscellaneous [P.2013.87.2; 185-195x], Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Freedman Collection - Lottery & Calendar Illustrations [P.2013.87.190x and 193x]