Heading:
Author: Bridgens, Richard Perkins
Title: Map of the City of San Francisco Compiled from Records & Surveys by R.P. Bridgens. C.E. 1854
Place Published: San Francisco
Publisher:
Date Published: 1854
Description:

Ink manuscript map on drafting linen. 100.5x130.5 cm (39½x51¼").

Very rare and important manuscript prototype version of R.P. Bridgens' large lithographed wall map, which was printed in Philadelphia and seems to have arrived in San Francisco around March, 1854. The present manuscript map, showing the streets and blocks of San Francisco, the land reclaimed from the Bay, soundings in the bay itself, and other features, is unrecorded in institutions and map collections. Evidence strongly suggests that this manuscript version was sold in small numbers prior to the shipment from Philadelphia of the lithographed wall map (notable for the vignettes surrounding the map, not present on this manuscript version).

The history of the map, both in its manuscript version and as a finished lithographic ornamental wall map, may be traced to the cataclysmic fire of June, 1851, in which three-quarters of San Francisco burned to the ground. Bridgens, an engineer, mapmaker, lithographer and architect, arrived in the city shortly afterwards, and set up an office. As the city rebuilt, there would have been a need for maps, most of which would have been consumed in the fire or rendered inaccurate by the reconstruction. The destruction of local printing businesses would have necessitated the sale of hand-drawn maps until the presses could be reestablished. As a trained civil engineer and architect, Bridgens was in prime position to fill that need. It seems most likely that he would have sold those maps at the same San Francisco stationery store which became the outlet for the lithographed map when it arrived from the east in in early 1854. There is a March 1854 advertisement in the Alta California newspaper for Bridgens' "beautiful map of San Francisco." It is highly unlikely that there would have been a market for the manuscript renderings after the arrival of the more ornate lithograph version.

The manuscript maps for sale, of which this may be the sole surviving example, were very likely drawn by Bridgens himself. San Francisco city records state he apparently had no employees or partners until late in 1854 when he hired his first employee/partner.

Some foxing, small tears and a few chips in margins crossing into map in a few places, one clean 3" split at left portion of map, mild vertical creasing; very good, a rare, possibly unique map of historical significance.