Bachman, John "Bird’s Eye View of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia.”

John Bachman.  “Bird’s Eye View of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia.”  From a series titled “Panorama of the Seat of War.” 

New York: Charles Magnus, 1864.  18 x 28 ¼ (image).   Chromolithograph.  Three short repaired tears into top margin; two into image from bottom margin.  Else, very good condition.  Third state.  

This fascinating print is half view, half map.  The scene looks down upon the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries from a ‘bird’s eye view.’  It shows the progress of the Union blockade against the Confederates, and it was designed for a Northern audience.  Along the right side one can see Wilmington, Baltimore, and Harper’s Ferry, including the water and road network that connected these points to the south.  Norfolk, Petersburg, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Washington are seen in the center of the image, with fine detail.  One of few documents to show the entire Delmarva Peninsula and as far west as the Shenandoah Valley.  Also shown are the forts and ships along and in the Chesapeake  Bay and to the north.  A dramatic and informative image of the Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia center of action during the Civil War. 

Three states of this print were issued; two by John Bachmann and one by Charles Magnus.  In the second state, Bachmann added smoke over the Manassas Battlefield.  In the third state, issued by Magnus, the smoke and information on either side of the title was removed, and the Magnus publication information was added.  Most examples found of this view are the third state.