City and Scenery of Newport, Rhode Island.
Item #46151
(RHODE ISLAND). (NEWPORT). COLLINS, John. The City and Scenery of Newport, Rhode Island. Illustrations, Drawn on Stone...Burlington, N.J., 1857. 12 1/2" by 17 5/8". Letterpress title-page and 6pp. of text. Two-color lithographic map of Newport and its environs, thirteen tinted lithographic views by Collins, printed by Thomas Sinclair. Oblong folio. Original cloth in 1/2 morocco clam shell folding box. SABIN 14442. PETERS, America on Stone, p.133. REPS, pp. 392-93. This is one of the finest and not desirable of all works relating to Newport. The thirteen views and one map are the most comprehensive record of the appearance of its environs in the mid-19th century. A fine visual and written introduction to the city of Newport. The anonymous text starts with a general introduction, pointing out that the commercial life of the city was initially blighted by the British during the War of Independence when the population dropped from ten thousand to four thousand and that it did not start to recover until after the war of 1812. The text continues with much information about contemporary life in the city: the names of the best hotels (one of which is depicted), places suitable for sea-bathing, the most scenic places to visit and descriptions of the best houses. According to Peters, Collins produced only two substantial groups of views: the present work, and a similar smaller-format work on the city of Burlington, N.J., published ten years earlier and including fourteen views, also printed by Thomas Sinclair of Philadelphia. Reps mentions only the work on Burlington. The plates are: [Map of] Newport, Rhode Island and its Environs; City and Harbor of Newport from Fort Adams; State House and Parade; The Old Stone Tower; The Friends Meeting House; The Glen; Ocean House; Rocks near Purgatory; Easton's Beach; The Reefs; Chateau sur Mer; The Spouting Rock; Fort Adams; Lily Pond.
Price: $6,250.00