"Missouri City - Prospectus",

An elaborate and rare lithographed city plan of the proposed new town that was planned to prosper from the riches of the nearby Iron Mountain Lode in St. Francois County. The town was never built. The highly detailed plan delineates streets, individual plots, parks, colleges, city hall and churches. Within the plan are numerous vignettes of building facades. At lower right a steam train runs along the route of the Iron Mountain & Mississippi Rail Road.

At lower left is a 4.5" x 5" inset map of the wider area that orients the 'town' to its vicinity. It shows St. Louis, a convergence of railroads and roads including the Kickapoo Rail Road. A bird's-eye view of Iron Mountain including an 3-D view of the company's office at upper right. Also with three views of the Missouri Iron Company Works.

The long prospectus at left provides information for the prospective client beginning with "Missouri City is situated on a beautiful plane [sic], at the base of the celebrated Iron Mountains, 90 miles south of St. Louis and 40 west of the Mississippi River…" The prospectus continues with the promise to not allow within the city limits any "slaughter house, butcher shop or yard, or tan[ning] yard, no glue, starch, candle, soap, turpentine, powder, or oil manufacture, or any other kind of manufacturing tending to infect the air, or annoy the neighborhood." By J. L. Van Doren, Henry Pease, Proprietors. Printed and published by Moore's Lithography in Boston. A fascinating and rare piece.

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Condition: B+

Folding as issued on very thin banknote-style paper with original margins. One area of toning and a few minor splits, closed on verso with archival tape. Some insect spotting along one margin on verso.