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Mr. Philip D. Burden
P.O. Box 863,
Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks HP6 9HD,
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +44 (0) 1494 76 33 13
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A rare and collectable version of Andrew Ellicott (1754-1820) famous plan of the intended new capitol city of Washington. It is found in the first volume of the “Encyclopedia Perthensis” published in Perth, Scotland. There are two issues, this is the FIRST ISSUE with the watermark dated 1794. The most notable difference from the original is the presence lower centre of the note “Engraved for Encyclopedia Perthensis”. It also lacks Hill’s imprint beneath the title. The original of Ellicott’s plan was engraved in Boston by Samuel Hill. The “Encyclopaedia Perthensis or Universal Dictionary of Knowledge” was published between 1796-1806. In 1770 the first printing press was set up in Perth by George Johnston. He printed amongst other works the ‘Perth Magazine’ for Robert Morison (d.1791), the Postmaster. In 1775 he acquired the Press and it continued with success. In time his sons, James (1762-1809) and Robert (1764-1853), also joined the firm. In 1796 the firm was joined by James’ son William (1780-1806), it was he who printed the “Encyclopedia Perthensis” for C. Mitchel.
The plan itself is drawn from the design of Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a French architect who fought in the Revolutionary war. Its rarity is indicated by the fact it is not mentioned in any of the carto-bibliographies on Washington Plans. It is not in Baynton-Williams, Phillips, Verner. cf Phillips, P.L. (DC) PW 17 (Hill version); cf Wheat & Brun no. 530 (Hill version); not in Verner in ‘Imago Mundi’ 23 pp. 59-72.
The plan itself is drawn from the design of Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a French architect who fought in the Revolutionary war. Its rarity is indicated by the fact it is not mentioned in any of the carto-bibliographies on Washington Plans. It is not in Baynton-Williams, Phillips, Verner. cf Phillips, P.L. (DC) PW 17 (Hill version); cf Wheat & Brun no. 530 (Hill version); not in Verner in ‘Imago Mundi’ 23 pp. 59-72.
ELLICOTT, Andrew
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 MDCCC
William Morison, Perth, 1796
390 x 500 mm., folding map as issued, minor tear just into the upper left title, another minor one at the binding point as might be expected, both professionally repaired, minor discolouration at the top and bottom of the centrefold, otherwise in good condition.
Stock number: 7418
SOLD