A VERY RARE VIEW OF BOSTON PRINTED IN AMERICA. There are very few topographical views of American cities printed in America during the eighteenth century. The view was originally drawn by Thomas Pownall, the Governor of Massachusetts in 1757, which was published in London in c.1760. Pownall was one of a school of talented individuals who contributed to the topographical and cartographic heritage of North America. In 1776 he wrote the ‘Topographical Description of North America’. The vantage used for the view is that of Castle William to the south east of the city. This reduction was issued in the ‘Columbian Magazine’ for December 1787. Its founder was Matthew Carey (1760-1839), Irish born he was destined to become one of the most influential cartographers in the early history of the United States. One notable difference from the original English publication is the flag flying over the Castle in the foreground is now the United States. The ‘Columbian Magazine’ was the ‘handsomest American magazine of its century’ (Mott). Refer Deak 106; Stokes and Haskell, American Historical Prints, #1758-B-86; Winsor, Memorial History of Boston, p. II:127.