Heading: (Maps)
Author: Ellicott, Andrew & Peter Charles L'Enfant
Title: 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 MDCC
Place Published: Philadelphia
Publisher:Engraved by Thackara & Vallance
Date Published: 1792
Description:

Copper-engraved map/plan. 51.6x67.1 cm (20¼x26½") on sheet 54.5x74.5 cm (21½x29¼").

The first "official" plan of Washington, D.C., a prime piece of Americana, superbly engraved on thick paper. The plan shows the layout of streets including the long diagonals. Washington is bordered by the Potomak (Potomac) River and the Eastern Branch, now the Anacostia River. Georgetown, at the left and northwest of Rock Creek, is separately labeled. Reedy Branch and Tiber Creek are shown to the north outside of the street pattern. Each block is numbered. A few major buildings including the Capitol and the Presidents House are labeled; others are merely outlined. The proposed landscape design for the Mall is shown with considerable detail. At top left is an eight-pointed compass indicator surmounted by a fleur-de-lys. Above the title is George Washington's coat of arms supported by Fame and Liberty. At the lower left is a distance Scale of Poles. Remarks at top concern the tide of Tiber Creek and how water could be provided to the city.

The original survey work was performed by Andrew Ellicott and the city design was drawn by Peter Charles L'Enfant. However, after a year of difficulties working with L'Enfant, Jefferson and Washington relieved him of his duties and turned all responsibilities over to Ellicott to produce the plan. While L'Enfant's name has been entirely removed from this work, the vision for the city was essentially his own. Once the plan was completed in 1791, it was handed over to the engravers James Thackara & John Vallance in Philadelphia, as well as Samuel Blodget in Boston (who employed Samuel Hill to engrave the plan). Both teams produced small and large versions of the plan. The larger plans are often referred to as the "Philadelphia Plan" and the "Boston Plan." This is the second state of the Philadelphia plan which includes soundings in the Potomac River as requested by Washington.

Expertly restored in with paper replaced at some edges and corners, affecting a bit of text at lower right and the scale at lower left, repaired along centerfold, hinge remnants on verso from earlier mounting; very good. Conservationist's report on the restoration of the map in 1994 available on request.