Holme, Thomas “A Portraiture of the City of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania in America.”

After Thomas Holme.   “A Portraiture of the City of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania in America."  From Thomas Scharf and Thompson Westcott History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884. 

Philadelphia:  L. H. Everts & Co., 1884.  7 ¼ x 12 ½ (neat lines).  Lithographic facsimile on thin bank note/chine appliqué paper.  With folds as originally issued.  Very good condition.  

A fine 19^th century facsimile map of the 1683 Thomas Holmes map of Philadelphia.   William Penn envisioned Philadelphia as a mile wide band extending two miles from the Delaware River to the Schuylkill River.  Penn had his surveyor general, Thomas Holme, make up a plan for the town, which Holme did in a simple, yet elegant grid of streets enhanced by the regular placement of five parks.  This plan was engraved and included in Penn’s promotional brochure.  The map shows the proposed grid of streets, with property lots marked off along each river and down the main street running from river to river.  A sketched inset map is included at the bottom showing the situation of the town on the peninsula formed by the rivers. 

This map is a lithographic facsimile printed in 1884 for a three volume set of the History of Philadelphia comprising  2,399 pages and  organized in 59 chapters.  Scharf & Westcott’s massive work is the standard reference for Philadelphia history up to its date of publication containing this map and over 430 illustrations, including portraits, parks, houses, businesses, institutions, and the like.  On the verso of the map is a list of the first purchasers of lots.