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1787 Engraved Print: A View of the Town of Boston the Capital of New England

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,600.00 USD
1787 Engraved Print: A View of the Town of Boston the Capital of New England
Colonial America
1787 Columbia Magazine “A View of the Town of Boston the Capital of New England” Showing the American Flag
1787 Engraved Print Titled, “A View of the Town of Boston the Capital of New England,” by James Trenchard, About Fine.
This View of Boston is a reduced version of one of the most important and rare prior Views of Colonial Era Boston that measures 10” x 8” overall with the image plate size 9” x 5”. In 1768, the leading print dealers of London jointly published a set of American views in the “Scenographia Americana”. Although earlier versions of this view show the British “Union Jack” flag flying at the front of the view, this very rare slightly later version was updated to show the American Flag with its stars and stripes. This version was engraved by James Trenchard and published in the December 1787 edition of Columbia Magazine, which was founded by Matthew Carey, an Irish-born cartographer who became one of the most influential mapmakers in the early history of the United States.

These engravings were made from illustrations that were drawn on the spot, often by military artists. Six of the engraved Views were from sketches made by Thomas Pownall, including this one. Thomas Pownall, was the Colonial Governor of the Massachusetts-Bay Colony during the French and Indian War (1757-59), and was noted as being one of the few sympathetic Colonial Governors to the inhabitants in the then British Colonies. He was also an accomplished artist, author and mapmaker. Notation below the caption reads: “as it was 1787.” Overall light tone and some soiling at margins and along some vertical folds with a thin in center below caption which has been expertly sealed on the blank verso.