(NEW YORK) Group of documents concerning an engraving of the

Sale 2432 - Lot 252

Price Realized: $ 812

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 400 - $ 600

(NEW YORK.) Group of documents concerning an engraving of the proposed Niagara Canal. 3 manuscript documents, each about 10 x 8 inches; folds, a bit of dampstaining to draft contract but condition generally strong. In a modern cloth gilt folding case. Vp, September 1836

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In April 1836, a United States governmental document titled "Canal--Lake Erie to Lake Ontario" proposed a canal to bypass Niagara Falls on the American side, to take full advantage of the ship traffic coming from the new Erie Canal (the Canadians had already built the Welland Canal on their side). New York engineer Christian Edward Detmold (1810-1887) was charged with publishing a map of the proposed new canal. Included here is is a letter from Major William Gibbs McNeill dated New York, 6 September 1836 describing his previous shipment of a "sketch of a ship canal around Niagara Falls by my friend W[illiam] G. Williams of the T.E. [Topographical Engineers] . . . which I desired you to have engraved in the best style in aq'tint" and dedicated to Colonel John James Abert. Detmold had already set the project into motion. Also included is a contract signed by engraver Charles Rosenberg to "engrave for Mr. C.E. Detmold of New York U.S. a perspective view of the Niagara Canal in aquatinta manner, the drawing measuring 2 feet 5 1/2 inches by 2 feet 1/2 inch; to furnish the copperplate for the same with a margin of 6 inches at the bottom to allow the necessary lettering," to be completed by December, dated London, 5 September 1836. A draft of the same contract, unsigned and undated, is also included. On its verso is a draft contract with an unknown party "to furnish to the New York, Providence & Boston Railroad Company one of my safety carriage railway carriages constructed on the five body principle, to be furnished . . . according to the drawing submitted to Mr. Detmold, engr NPB Railway."