Five early 19th Century firefighting lithographic plates celebrating opening of Erie Canal

Item Details

New York City, Cadwallader D. Colden, 1825

First, Good

Five lithographic plates depicting fire apparatus that appeared in the New York City parade of the Grand Canal Celebration marking the 1825 opening of the Erie Canal.

Considered among the first lithographs printed in America and executed by Imbert’s Lithography, these are from Cadwallader D. Colden’s Memoir. The plates were executed variously by Imbert, Signore Canova, W.H. Tuthill & W.P. Morgan.

The plates:

“Eagle Fire Engine No. 13 as she appeared in the Procession on the Fourth of November 1825 at the Grand Canal Celebration in the City of New York” (with original description) (page measures @ 8 x 12 inches)

Hook and Ladder Company (with original description) (pages measures @ 9 x 13.5 inches)

Fire Department (with apparatus marked “Lafayette 7”) (with original description) (page 9 x 11 inches)

Fire Department (Phenix Co.) No. 22 (with original description) (page measures @ 7 x 11 inches)

Clinton Fire Company No. 41 (with original description) (page measures @ 7.5 x 10.5 inches)

The pages, disbound from Colden’s book, are in overall good shape, with several archival tape repairs, some foxing and minor page edge tears.