WILD, J. C.

Panorama and Views of Philadelphia

Item #54634

WILD, J. C. Panorama and Views of Philadelphia, and Its Vicinity, Embracing a Collection of Twenty Views, from painting by J. C. Wild. With Pictorial Illustrations of Each Subject, by Andrew M'Makin. Phila., 1838. 4to. 1st ed. [22] pp. plus twenty-four black and white lithographs. Orig. boards with gilt-letterd black morocco label on front board, rebacked in matching style. Corners worn, boards scuffed with small stains, some light scattered foxing, else a very good copy in a custom 1/4-morocco clamshell box. HOWES W-410. An important and very rare American view book, showing scenes in and around Philadelphia, primarily notable public works and major public building, ranging from the University of Pennsylvania to the Eastern Penitentiary, U.S. Mint, Naval Asylum, U.S. Bank, Merchants' Exchange, and more. This issue also includes four additional plates, being north, south, east, and west views from City Hall, forming a panorama. The panorama plates are perhaps the most interesting in the work, and are often lacking. Wild was well known as a landscaper artist and panorama painter; shortly after this work came out he moved to St. Louis, where he produced the first lithographically illustrated work issued there, The Valley of the Mississippi Illustrated. The handsome views in this volume are some of the nicest American city views of the period. There are two issues of this book, the present and another with the title, Views of Philadelphia .... the other issue has only twenty plates, omitting the four panorama plates present here. Howes accords the Panorama and Views of Philadelphia a "c" rating, while the other issue rates a "b." The twenty-plate issue is quite scarce; the present issue, with the panorama plates, is extremely rare.

Price: $7,500.00