"Plan of Egg Harbor City Atlantic County New Jersey",

A remarkably detailed street and lot layout plan drawn on a scale of 600 feet to one inch, folding into black cloth covers (4.5" x 7"). At lower right "Autographed by J. Edelman; Printed by F. Bourquin, Lith., 31 S. 6th St., Philada., Pa." Egg Harbor City was a 19th century version of a planned community intended to lure German-Americans from throughout the United States.

An excellent early history is provided in Dieter Cunz's "Egg Harbor City: New Germany in America" at www.westjersey.org. Cunz makes the only reference found to this map: "Most of these streets and avenues remained just names on a gigantic oversized map. This old map of Egg Harbor City is an eloquent monument to the unfulfilled dreams, a barometer of the maritime aspirations as well as the intellectual climate of the group behind the Egg Harbor experiment." Cunz dates the map to around 1860, which is consistent with the time period the lithographer was operating at the address noted. On very fine banknote paper, two sheets joined. Apparently a very scarce plan.

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Condition: A

One small, light damp stain else fine. Covers a little rubbed and some gilt missing from title.