Catalog Archive
Auction 139, Lot 254

Fabulous View of the Brooklyn Bridge Prior to its Completion

"The City of New York", Currier & Ives

Subject: New York City, New York

Period: 1870 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
32.8 x 22 inches
83.3 x 55.9 cm
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Currier and Ives was a printmaking company based in New York City from 1834-1907, specializing in high quality, hand printed and colored stone lithographs. The focus of their work was American life, cities and people, and they often employed celebrated artists of the day to render drawings to be reproduced in print form. This incredible bird's-eye panoramic view shows the busy harbors of New York City from Brooklyn Heights. The skyline of the densely built metropolis is punctuated by church steeples, and the New York Bay is filled with heavy side-wheeler traffic. Castle Garden, now known as Castle Clinton, is depicted at left. The most striking part of the image is the Brooklyn Bridge (here called East River Bridge), which is depicted as it was originally planned in 1870. The bridge was not actually completed until 1883. Numerous other locations are identified below the image. The imprint at bottom shows Currier and Ives' address at 152 Nassau St. Sheet size is 35-5/8" x 23-5/8".

References: Reps (Views) #2704.

Condition: B+

Original color with minor retouching in sky and on repairs. On thick, woven paper with a tear that extends 13" into image at left center, and two tears in image at bottom left (1" and 6") that have all been expertly and almost invisibly repaired. There are a few tiny abrasions in bottom blank margin. Backed in tissue.

Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000

Sold for: $11,000

Closed on 2/15/2012

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