G. W. Averell, lithographer. Pictures of Life and Character in New York. New York: Geo. W. Averell & Co., [n. d., advertisements dated 1877]. First edition. Quarto. [20] pages. Includes nineteen tinted lithographed plates on the recto with advertisements on the verso. Publisher's brick red cloth over beveled boards with decoration and titles embossed in black and gilt. Boards worn at the corners; four-inch split on the spine; contemporary hotel ownership label mounted to the front pastedown; front hinge broken, else internally a fine copy.

A quaint look at the social life and customs of New York in the late nineteenth century. The plates cover a wide range of subjects, including Fulton Ferry, Chatham Street, Castle Garden, "Mrs. McHash Private Boarding House," Chinese quarters including two men smoking opium, horse racing, unsavory characters, beggars, and street vendors throughout the city, military scenes, and more. The advertisements are equally interesting and offer goods and services such as tobacco, music boxes, optical instruments, suspenders, pianos, varnishes, hair tonic, printing materials, kid gloves, steam boat voyages, perfumery, champagne, chocolate, billiard tables, carriages, and much more. This is a scarce book with wonderful plates.