Manhattan in Maps : 1527-1995

Rating:
Summary: Great book, screaming for a larger edition
Review: I know I'm jumping on the bandwagon here, but the maps are disappointing because they're too small to be scrutinized. The text, however, compensates greatly for this flaw. The chapters are concise but not a word is wasted. I found the section on the British invasion of Brooklyn as well-written and gripping as any thriller. I can only hope that they are planning to come out with a larger edition for the illustrations.

Rating:
Summary: Manhattan in Maps receives award
Review: Manhattan in Maps was awarded the New York City Book Prize in 1998 as one of the two best books about the city published in 1997. The prize is awarded each year by The New York Society Library, the oldest library in New York City.

Rating:
Summary: Must read for collectors
Review: Message to the authors

I am in possession of a lithograph of New York (Manhattan/Brooklyn/Gov. Island) a bird's eye view drawn by J. Bachmann, printed by G. Schlegel (97 William St) Also mentioning: Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1874 by John Bachmann in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington,DC. It really is a beautiful picture in fine colours (light blue, soft green, broken white, size 80x50 cm),clearly depicting all buildings, and also showing Brooklyn Bridge with a threemaster with full sails underneath. Are you aware of this lithograph? Do you have any information about it? Gerard van Vliet <[e-mail]> best rgds

Rating:
Summary: Tiny, illegible maps. Useless.
Review: The maps are miniscule, reproduced to fit into a single spread, where they are squeezed between commentary. The type on them is so small and blurry that it was impossible to read, even with serious magnification. This book was a complete and total disappointment. Instead of an informative, legible reference, Manhattan in Maps is nothing more than a "coffee table" book, and not a very good one at that. If you're looking for maps you could actually refer to and learn from, this is not the book for you. Hopefully, someone will get the hint and put out a quality folio of these valuable maps.

Rating:
Summary: wonderful
Review: This is a wonderful book. Wonderful in conception and wonderful in execution. It reminds me of the book by Phil Jenkins, An Acre In Time, about one space of land near Ottawa, Canada. To see our spaces over the course of centuries is a revelation, an education, a memory and a warning. The production is excellent and the book should be included with every college level history course.

Rating:
Summary: wonderful
Review: This is a wonderful book. Wonderful in conception and wonderful in execution. It reminds me of the book by Phil Jenkins, An Acre In Time, about one space of land near Ottawa, Canada. To see our spaces over the course of centuries is a revelation, an education, a memory and a warning. The production is excellent and the book should be included with every college level history course.

Rating:
Summary: Small Maps, but wonderful commentary
Review: While I agree with one reviewer that the maps depicted in the book are small and difficult to read (more due to the apparent custom of making 17th and 18th century maps totally illegible in any case rather than the editors' layout of them), the commentary accompanying the maps is very illuminating and interesting. The authors also chose to use maps highlighting, for example, '70s-era police practice, '20s-era political classifications and a map of the subway along with the more conventional surveyor's maps; truly a very interesting collection. A good companion to any history of pre-20th century NYC, such as Gotham.