Restrike of Ellicott's Official Plan of Washington D.C.

"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 MDCCC", Ellicott, Andrew

This map is based on Andrew Ellicott's survey and is considered the official plan of Washington DC. 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 and there are soundings in the rivers. 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. Outline contours of docks and slips are shown along the rivers along with numerous soundings. Near the upper left is an eight-pointed compass rose surmounted by a fleur-de-lis. 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. Engraved by Thackara & Vallance and first published in 1792. This is a restrike from the original plate, probably issued by the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey. Plate No. 2340 is below the upper platemark at center.

References: Wheat & Brun, #531; Schwartz & Ehrenberg, pl. 132; Phillips (DC), PW-14.

Condition: B+

Nice strong impression on thick wove paper. There is some scattered foxing primarily along the edge of the map in the blank spaces with some light even toning. There is minor soiling on the edges and a small crease by the distance scale.