View. Lithograph. 8 1/2" x 12". This view depicts an early image of what would be the Brooklyn Bridge, the first bridge across the East River from Manhattan to Brooklyn. Folds as issued and some stains, otherwise in good condition. It comes from the 1869 edition the "Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York," which was one of the two manuals published by the New York City Common Council, issued by Joseph Shannon, clerk of the council in 1868 and 1869. The "Manuals of the Corporation" were directories of extensive historical and contemporary records of New York first compiled by D.T. Valentine. These books include detailed information on the meetings of the Aldermen Council, ordinances passed, public officials, the city's debts, directories of hospitals, alms houses and schools, ferry schedules, lists of public porters, demographics and census information, and descriptions of historic buildings and streets. Much of the information was gleaned from Dutch and English sources, as processed by Valentine. By this late date in the publishing of the manuals - the first was released in 1841 and the last in 1870 - the volumes had become extremely lavish, filled with illustrated and full-color folding maps. The 1869 edition is no exception, as it is illustrated throughout with lithographs and engravings of important city landmarks and personalities. There are a number of fold-out maps, including a "Map of the City of New York Showing its Political Divisions and Subdivisions" from August 1869 at the front of the volume. D.T. Valentine (1801-1869) served as the Deputy to the Clerk of the Common Council for thirty-seven years and took it upon himself to compile the "Manuals", which he updated and published annually from 1841-1866. Joseph Shannon succeeded Valentine as Clerk and published the manuals for 1868 and 1869. It is an excellent source of early New York City history, and this view of the Brooklyn Bridge before it was completed in 1883 is a principal facet of that.
