Two Century Old Map of Pittsburgh up for Auction
Patricia Lowry
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (US):
If it's authentic, it would be the earliest known draft and only surviving copy of Pittsburgh's town plan, produced in 1784 by surveyor George Woods for the Penn family, which owned the land.But the map, drawn in faded ink on yellowed parchment, is shrouded in mystery, with an unknown provenance and a gap of almost 150 years in its whereabouts.
Its owner, said to be a private collector with a passion for early Western Pennsylvania documents, has consigned it for auction next month in Philadelphia and wishes to remain anonymous.
He told the auction house he purchased it at a house sale on the North Side in about 1988."He said at first he didn't fully understand what it was," said David Bloom, vice president of books, prints and manuscripts for Samuel T. Freeman & Co., which estimates the map's value at $60,000 to $90,000. "It was folded up among miscellaneous house sale items. I don't think he had a eureka moment."But in 1994, the owner began to research the map, and what he found convinced him he had purchased the sole survivor of three known original drawings of the city's 1784 plan, whose whereabouts were last documented in 1842.
"This document stands as the Penn's charter of Pittsburgh," the auction house's description reads. "Every deed issued by Penn's Philadelphia Land Office referred to it. All subsequent real estate ownership in Pittsburgh's 'Triangle' is based on this document, and it [and its facsimiles] have been presented as evidence in many court boundary disputes in the 19th century."The map measures 13 1/2 inches by 17 1/4 inches and has some darkening and creasing.
Street names are assigned and blocks are divided into numbered lots, but no names appear on the lots.The Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, which operates the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center and owns a large 1805 map of Pittsburgh, is weighing a bid on this one.
"Our archivists have been in touch with the auction house looking for more information determining its provenance and authenticity and seeing what they could find out about where it originated and who owns it right now," said Andrew E. Masich, the society's president. "We're not sure if we're going to bid on it or what our interest is yet."The map's authenticity rests on the authority and signature of James Ross, Pittsburgh attorney and U.S. senator who happened to be surveyor Woods' son-in-law.Written on the map and signed by Mr. Ross is a two-line testament of authenticity:
"This is the parchment draft referred to in my deposition," followed by "this 29th day of December, 1841."
Oct 22, 2005
Patricia Lowry
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
__________________
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (US):
If it's authentic, it would be the earliest known draft and only surviving copy of Pittsburgh's town plan, produced in 1784 by surveyor George Woods for the Penn family, which owned the land.But the map, drawn in faded ink on yellowed parchment, is shrouded in mystery, with an unknown provenance and a gap of almost 150 years in its whereabouts.
Its owner, said to be a private collector with a passion for early Western Pennsylvania documents, has consigned it for auction next month in Philadelphia and wishes to remain anonymous.
He told the auction house he purchased it at a house sale on the North Side in about 1988."He said at first he didn't fully understand what it was," said David Bloom, vice president of books, prints and manuscripts for Samuel T. Freeman & Co., which estimates the map's value at $60,000 to $90,000. "It was folded up among miscellaneous house sale items. I don't think he had a eureka moment."But in 1994, the owner began to research the map, and what he found convinced him he had purchased the sole survivor of three known original drawings of the city's 1784 plan, whose whereabouts were last documented in 1842.
"This document stands as the Penn's charter of Pittsburgh," the auction house's description reads. "Every deed issued by Penn's Philadelphia Land Office referred to it. All subsequent real estate ownership in Pittsburgh's 'Triangle' is based on this document, and it [and its facsimiles] have been presented as evidence in many court boundary disputes in the 19th century."The map measures 13 1/2 inches by 17 1/4 inches and has some darkening and creasing.
Street names are assigned and blocks are divided into numbered lots, but no names appear on the lots.The Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, which operates the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center and owns a large 1805 map of Pittsburgh, is weighing a bid on this one.
"Our archivists have been in touch with the auction house looking for more information determining its provenance and authenticity and seeing what they could find out about where it originated and who owns it right now," said Andrew E. Masich, the society's president. "We're not sure if we're going to bid on it or what our interest is yet."The map's authenticity rests on the authority and signature of James Ross, Pittsburgh attorney and U.S. senator who happened to be surveyor Woods' son-in-law.Written on the map and signed by Mr. Ross is a two-line testament of authenticity:
"This is the parchment draft referred to in my deposition," followed by "this 29th day of December, 1841."
Oct 22, 2005
