Collins & Autenrieth “Panorama of Philadelphia. Chesnut [sic] Street, East of Fifth”

Collins & Autenrieth.  “Panorama of Philadelphia.  Chesnut [sic] Street, East of Fifth.” 

Philadelphia: Schnabel, Finkeldey & Demme, 1856.  7 x 10 1/2.  Tinted lithograph.  Printed by Schnabel, Finkeldey & Demme.  Very good condition.  Wainwright 1: 263; Prints of Philadelphia: 182.  A/A

A print perhaps inspired by Rae’s Chestnut Street Panorama of a few years before.  Rae’s volume was an advertising vehicle which illustrated the buildings along Chestnut Street from Second to Tenth.  From the title of this print, it appears that Schnabel, Finkeldey & Demme may have intended to publish a similar series of street scenes to advertise the businesses shown in them.  If this was their intent, the project was likely a failure, for few of these prints exist.  A second state of this print, with the name M.H. Traubel & Co. replacing that of Schnabel, Finkeldey & Demme, labels this as “Plate 4.”  This indicates that there may be at least three other images from this series.  The image of this print shows the south side of Chestnut at the corner of Fifth.  On the second floor right side is Root’s Daguerre-o-type Studio. Part of Congress Hall appears at the right, but the image centers on the five shops lining the block to the east.  Pedestrians and carriages are depicted, but the focus of the scene is on the businesses.