American Maps and City Views. 1497-1891. Very Rare. WOW Publ 1932. NYPL Collection. Auction House Estimate $500 Start Price USD 195.00 Current Price USD 195.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, October 09, 2008 End Time Thursday, October 16, 2008 Location LOWER MANHATTAN See more about 'American Maps and City Views. 1497-1891. Very Rare. WOW' Description American Maps and City Views 1497-1891 Very Rare I recently took this book to one of the big New York City Auction Houses for possible inclusion in their upcoming Antique Map Auction. THEY APPRAISED THE BOOK FOR $500. Unfortunately it was below their auction minimum of $2,000. They told me, this was a very important and rare book in the world of antique map collecting. Here it is on ebay for less than half the auction estimate of $500. Do not miss this one, you may never see another copy of this very rare book. "American Historical Prints Early Views of American Cities, Etc. 1497 – 1891". Published 1932 by the New York Public Library. Could this be, the Holy Grail of early American maps and city prints?. This is the complete catalog survey of the collection of The New York Public Library. As you collectors are aware, the finest collection of early American maps and city prints is housed at the New York Public Library. Black cloth cover. Gold leaf title trim and decorative elements. Measures 8 ¾ x 11 ½. Pages numbered to 328, Roman numerals pages to 35. One color plate. Two and one half inches thick. Very good condition. I believe, I may have been the first person to open the book, when I shot the pictures. The "white string" you see on the left, of all page pictures is a very soft nylon cord, used to hold the pages during photography. You will not find another copy of this very rare and very limited book in better condition, anywhere. Quoting from the introduction to present the scope of the book: "Nevertheless, until recently there had been no serious attempt to gather under one roof for within a single volume a comprehensive and balanced collection of maps, plans and views which collectively by their geographical arrangement , geographic grouping, and description, should convey an adequate idea of the gradual development of the Western Hemisphere. For the most part, the pictures have been allowed to tell their own story, supplemented only by a few facts craved by collectors, by identifying the more important landmarks and by brief historical notes which, avoid duplication." The Holy Grail of early American maps and city prints. Collectors do not miss this very rare book and EXCELLENT addition to your antique map collection. Please check my other auctions for more quality American paintings, prints, photographs and frames, from the first half of the 20th century. Buyer pays $18 Shipping/Packing/Insurance. Checks must be received five days after conclusion of auction. Checks held until clear. All items sold as is. All sales final. Always looking for quality NYC artists 1890 – 1965. Thank you. Place a Bid!