Catalog Archive
Auction 92, Lot 179

"Plat of the City of Detroit as laid out by the Govr and Judges", Farmer, John

Subject: Detroit, Michigan

Period: 1860 (published)

Publication: American State Papers, Public Lands, Vol.3

Color: Black & White

Size:
11.6 x 18.5 inches
29.5 x 47 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

This city plan was drawn in 1831 from a survey by John Farmer and published in 1860 as part of the Congressional document that reviewed public land issues resolved between December 1828 and April 1834. The old town of Detroit was destroyed by fire in 1805. In 1806, Congress passed a law appropriating 10,000 acres in and adjacent to the old town and authorized the Governor of Michigan Territory to lay out a new town and deal with the land title issues. It took until 1831 for the Governor to officially report back to Congress, as there were a number of former land owners who filed claims for property lost when the town was re-platted. The plan sparked considerable controversy from citizens of Detroit who complained to Congress that they, and not the Territorial Governor, should have the right to plat their own city.

References:

Condition: A

Issued folded with archival tape repairs of marginal splits. Map very clean and crisp.

Estimate: $250 - $300

Unsold

Closed on 9/13/2000

Archived