Fuller and Whitney
1885

Antique manuscript engineers traced plan of Boston's Charlesgate East area

Manuscript engineers trace of Boston Back Bay between Mass. Ave and Charlesgate East

DESCRIPTION: William H. Whitney was a very early adopter of the "blue process" or blueprinting . Both this trace and the blueprint produced from this trace were created by Whitney just 4 years after the earliest recorded use of blueprints for his Boston-based civil engineering firm.

This rare artifact is the original manuscript cadastral ink trace on tracing cloth from September 22, 1885 providing plan detail for a portion of the Boston Back Bay on Beacon and Marlborough Streets and Commonwealth Avenue west of West Chester Park (Massachusetts Avenue) and east of Ipswich Street (Charlesgate East). This trace would have been used as the reproducible master source to create one or more blueprints, then a new reprographic technology.

With Fuller & Whitney's ink oval over stamp. MS number in pencil at bottom right: "1277".

Fuller and Whitney
Back Bay Engineers (1872- 1888)

From 1872 to 1888, Fuller & Whitney Civil Engineers thrived as a partnership between J. Franklin Fuller and William H. Whitney. In 1888, Whitney assumed sole proprietorship, boldly renaming the firm "William H. Whitney" to reflect his visionary leadership.

1881 MS Trace Fuller and Whitney Ad and Order Form
(not included)

In his autobiography Whitney refers to his work with the latest cutting-edge reprographic technology- blueprinting:

“In September 1881 I received a bronze medal at the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association Exhibit for sun or blue prints. I developed a process from the French and used it in illustrating the growth of Back Bay lands. I issued to subscribers monthly schedules and maps showing the changes of ownership, increase in value, improvement by filling and public works.” (The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol 64, January 1910. Number 253. p. lix)

CREATOR: Fuller and Whitney

PUBLICATION DATE: 1885

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: United States

BODY OF WATER: N/A

CONDITION: Very good. No condition issues. Clean. Ample margins.

COLORING: N/A

ENGRAVER:

SIZE: 13 " x 15 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 86

PRICE: $500

ADD TO CART *

* Next Shipping Date is May 14, 2024

This web site provides security by Rapid SSL

Similar items:

716	Boston Harbor and the North Shore Orginal antique birdseye view folding map of Boston Harbor by George Walker shows ferry routes, steamer routes and railroad lines between Boston and points both within Boston Harbo . . .	Details	1907	George-W--Walker-Lithograph-and-Publishing-Co	Boston-Harbor-and-the-North-Shore	Orginal antique birdseye view folding map of Boston Harbor by George Walker shows ferry routes, steamer routes and railroad lines between Boston and points both within Boston Harbor and to outlying towns. This fascinating old lithographed map differs from other birdseye-view maps we are aware of from this era because it includes Marblehead, Lynn, Salem and extends north-eastwards to Gloucester, Massachusetts. We can date the map with confidence because it clearly shows the Wonderland Amusement Park at Revere Beach which failed after five years, operating exclusively between 1906 and 1911. Wonderland, served by the Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad, was modeled along the lines of the World's Fairs of that era and included roller coasters, technological exhibits, theaters and a boardwalk. <br></br> Noted points of interest include Charlestown, Point of Pines, Magnolia, Baker's Island, Thompson's Island, "the Pumping Station", Dorchester Bay, Squantum, Norfolk Downs, Quincy Bay, Hough's Neck, Hingham Harbor, Winthrop, Beachmont, Great Head, Peddock's Island, Nantasket Beach, Port Allerton, the town of Hull with Fort Revere, George's Island with Fort Warren, Deer Island, Lovell's Island, Lynn, Swampscott, Thatcher's Island, Strawberry Hill, and many more. Captures several local lighthouses and aids to navigation including Boston Light, Long Island Light, Fawn Bar Beacon, Graves Light, and far out the bay - a whisting buoy. <br></br> Original lithograph by George W. Walker, lithographer of Boston in landscape format is in very good condition for a 105+ year old map. Was originally folded into a card cover but the front half has disappeared leaving the map attached to the back cover, as issued. <br></br>
1005	Birdseye View of Boston Harbor by Union News Co. Folding antique colored harbor excursion map from ca. 1917 of South Boston, Boston Harbor, Dorchester Bay, Quincy Bay, and Cape Cod Bay to Provincetown. This colorful survivor sho . . .	Details	1917	Finn--W-J-	Birdseye-View-of-Boston-Harbor-by-Union-News-Co-	Folding antique colored harbor excursion map from ca. 1917 of South Boston, Boston Harbor, Dorchester Bay, Quincy Bay, and Cape Cod Bay to Provincetown. This colorful survivor shows steamship routes to coastal towns and identifies many nearby islands. <br></br> This map could have been purchased by passengers aboard any steamboat plying the routes shown on the map including: <div class="indenttextblock"> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"> <li>To Europe</li> <li>To Provincetown</li> <li>To Plymouth</li> <li>To Nantasket</li> <li>To New York</li> </ul> </div> Legend at bottom identifies numerous islands and other features as a sample below illustrates: <div class="indenttextblock"> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"> <li>Nixes Mate</li> <li>Snake Island</li> <li>Commonwealth Pier</li> <li>Minots Light</li> <li>Rowes Wharf</li> </ul> </div> Without the advertisements sometimes found on the cover. Price is noted on the front as "10 cents".
1476	Massachusetts Bay and Coast from Chatham to Gloucester 2 Chart D Massachusetts Bay and the Coast from Chatham to Gloucester, published by George W. Eldridge in 1901, is a navigational chart that accurately depicts the coastline, harbors, . . .	Details	1901	Eldridge--George-W-	Massachusetts-Bay-and-Coast-from-Chatham-to-Gloucester-2	Chart D Massachusetts Bay and the Coast from Chatham to Gloucester, published by George W. Eldridge in 1901, is a navigational chart that accurately depicts the coastline, harbors, and navigational hazards along Massachusetts Bay, from Chatham in the south to Gloucester in the north. <br><br> The chart is highly detailed and includes information on soundings (water depth measurements), tides, currents, and other navigational data. It shows the location of lighthouses, buoys, beacons, and other aids to navigation, as well as the location of rocks, shoals, and other navigational hazards. <br><br> In addition to navigational aids, the chart also shows the names and locations of towns, cities, and other landmarks along the coast, providing a useful reference for sailors navigating the area. Coverage includes the coastal margins near the towns of Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, Brewster, Yarmouth, Plymouth, Scituate, Cohasset, Marblehead, Salem, Gloucester, and the town and harbor of Boston, Massachusetts. The chart was designed to be used by sailors and navigators, and its accuracy and level of detail made it an essential tool for safe navigation along the Massachusetts Bay. <br><br> Date printed in blue stamp "1901". Note: Price is discounted for condition.
2517	An Exact Draught of Bostone harbour Late 19th century facsimile of a very rare map of Boston attributed to Cyprian Southack. This facsimile is itself a scarce item and represents the best available copy of Southack' . . .	Details	1883	Boston-Photo-Electro--Co-	An-Exact-Draught-of-Bostone-harbour	Late 19th century facsimile of a very rare map of Boston attributed to Cyprian Southack. This facsimile is itself a scarce item and represents the best available copy of Southack's survey. Names many of the islands in Boston Harbour. <br></br> Depicts trees, buildings, the encampment on Noddle Island and ships in Boston Harbour pictorially. Boston Neck depicted as a very thin strip of land connecting the Shawmut peninsula to the mainland. <br></br> Note at bottom left reads: "Entered according to an Act of Congress in the year 1883 by A.O. Crane in the office of Librarian of Congress at Washington."
2540	Antique blueprint engineer's plan of Boston's Charlesgate East area Original rare cadastral blueprint plan from September 22, 1885 providing detail for a portion of Boston's Back Bay on Beacon Street, Marlborough Street, and Commonwealth Avenue wes . . .	Details	1885	Fuller-and-Whitney	Antique-blueprint-engineer-s-plan-of-Boston-s-Charlesgate-East-area	Original rare cadastral blueprint plan from September 22, 1885 providing detail for a portion of Boston's Back Bay on Beacon Street, Marlborough Street, and Commonwealth Avenue west of West Chester Park (Massachusetts Avenue) and east of Ipswich Street (Charlesgate East). At center left the reader will find the Beacon Entrance to Back Bay Park. <br></br> This blueprint, and perhaps other like it, were the end product created from <a href="https://www.rarecharts.com/ShowDetail/Creator/Fuller-and-Whitney/Title/Antique-manuscript-engineers-traced-plan-of-Boston-s-Charlesgate-East-area/2543" target="_blank">a manuscript trace document</a> by William H. Whitney. </div> Verso is blank. <br></br> During the period 1872 to 1888 Fuller & Whitney Civil Engineers, was conducted as a partnership between J. Franklin Fuller and William H. Whitney with offices at 39 Court Street, Boston, Mass. Whitney assumed sole control of the firm in 1888 and changed the name to William H. Whitney. <br></br> In his autobiography Whitney refers to his work with the latest cutting-edge reprographic technology- blueprinting: <div class="indenttextblock">“In September 1881 I received a bronze medal at the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association Exhibit for sun or blue prints. I developed a process from the French and used it in illustrating the growth of Back Bay lands. I issued to subscribers monthly schedules and maps showing the changes of ownership, increase in value, improvement by filling and public works.” (The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol 64, January 1910. Number 253. p. lix).</div>