Unattributed “San Francisco.”

Unattributed.  “San Francisco.” 

New York: Charles Magnus, ca. 1870. Octavo.  4 x 8 (image).  Lithographic transfer from engraved plate.  Very good condition. 

Facing East toward the bay and Alcatraz, the Golden Gate and Sausalito on the left, this print shows a lovely view of the city.  Beginning around mid-century, bird’s-eye views of American cities became very popular.  These were originally issued in large folio size, but publishers, such as Charles Magnus of New York, soon realized that there was a market for smaller versions of these prints.  With more information and rarer than the more usual street scenes, this print is a most desirable image of nineteenth century America