Lot 78
"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." Engraved by Thackara and Vallance, Philadelphia: 1792. 23 x 30½ in. Closed edge tears; backed with japan paper; some soiling. An early issue.
When the location of the site of the new nation's capital was being debated, the northern states refused to accept its location in the South and vice versa. A compromise was reached between Alexander Hamilton and James Madison that in exchange for the Federal Government's assuming states' debts incurred during the Revolutionary War (wanted by Alexander Hamilton) that the new capital should be in the South. The Residence Act of 1790 was passed, which established that the capital of the United States would be located at a site along the Potomac River. The Act, which gave President George Washington the authority to choose the site, provided for a district not more than 10 miles square along the Potomac River "at some place between the mouths of the Eastern Branch and the Connogocheague."
French artist and engineer Pierre L'Enfant was hired to develop a plan for the capital city but proved to be so difficult that Washington fired him in 1792. He engaged Andrew Ellicott, who had conducted the topographical survey of the area. Ellicott used L'Enfant's design, based on the European model of broad avenues and large public squares, and used to dramatic effect the city's setting along the Potomac River. In order to expedite the sale of land in the as-yet-unbuilt capital, manuscript plans were sent to Thackara & Vallance in Philadelphia and Samuel Blodget, Jr. in Boston to be engraved and published.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 5,000.
|
| |
| Realized $2,640 |
