Collection | Text

Treasures of the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library

NYHS Identifier
Library Collection
Contributor
New-York Historical Society. Library

Item Details Content statement

PID
nyhs:treasures
NYHS Identifier
Library Collection
Member of
New-York Historical Society Digital Collections
Genre
archives (groupings)
broadsides (notices)
drawings (visual works)
ephemera (general object genre)
manuscripts (documents)
maps (documents)
newspapers
photographs
printed ephemera
prints (visual works)
rare books
views (visual works)
Owning Institution
New-York Historical Society
Publisher
New-York Historical Society
Type
Text
Subject (Topical)
Libraries--New York (State)--New York--Archives
Subject (Name)
New-York Historical Society. Library--Archives
Contributor
New-York Historical Society. Library
Date Created
1600 to 1950

Items in this collection

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In Congress, July 4, 1776. : A declaration by the representatives of the United States of America, in general Congress assembled.

The Hugh Gaine printing of the Declaration of Independence. "Signed by order and in behalf of the Congress- John Hancock- president. Attest. Charles Thomson- secretary." Watermark: Strassburg bend and lily over "GR." New-York Historical copy presented by Lucius Wilmerding. Cf. NYHS Quarterly 32 (1948). References: Bristol B4403; Shipton & Mooney- 43203; Walsh- M.J. "Contemporary Broadside Editions of the Declaration of Independence." Harvard Library Bulletin 3 (1949): 31-43- 4.
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In Congress, July 4, 1776. : A declaration by the representatives of the United States of America, in general Congress assembled.

The Declaration of Independence- place of publication and printer unknown. "Signed by order and in behalf of the Congress- John Hancock- president. Attest. Charles Thomson- sec'ry." Text printed in two columns- 70 lines in first. Watermark: A Rogge. References: Bristol B4404; Shipton & Mooney- 43196; Walsh- M.J. "Contemporary Broadside Editions of the Declaration of Independence." Harvard Library Bulletin 3 (1949): 31-43- 5.
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Proclamation. The number of fires which have appeared at the same time at very distant parts, : and other circumstances, afford too fatal a proof of an intention to destroy this city ... require every householder to send me a list of the number and names

Signed: James Robertson- m. gen. Commanding in New-York. Mortized initial- type ornament rule. The initial and address are of Hugh Gaine- who was in Newark at this time. His press in New York was not supervised by Ambrose Serle until Sept. 30. Cf. Ford. Watermark (cropped): IV. New-York Historical copy with holograph note: Dear Sir- I have sent you three new papers the latest I could get in this city. Yours to [lent?] Gibbs Atkins. To Capt. Gay. References: Reilly- E.C. Colonial printers' ornaments 367; Ford- P.L. Journals of Hugh Gaine- p. 56-57.
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Postscript to the Freeman's journal, Oct. 24. : How are the mighty fallen! Wednesday evening, Oct. 24. This morning arrived in town col. Tilghman, aid de camp to His Excellency general Washington; by whom we have the following official account of the surr

The Freeman's journal was printed in Philadelphia by Francis Bailey. Includes Washington's letter to Congress- dated 19th Oct.- 1781- followed by the correspondence between Washington and Cornwallis- dated 17-18th Oct.- and "Articles of capitulation ... Done at York in Virginia- this 19th day of October- 1781. Cornwallis. Thomas Symonds. Published by order of Congress- Charles Thomson- sec." Advertisement for John Oldden's store- Second Street- Philadelphia- at end. New-York Historical copy damaged along creases- slightly affecting text and illustration.
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Boston, 26th of June, 1775. : This town was alarmed on the 17th instant at break of day, by a firing from the Lively ship of war; and a report was immediately spread that the rebels had broke ground, and were raising a battery on the heights of the penins

This broadside contains the first printed account of the Battle of Bunker Hill. It was evidently written immediately after the famous engagement by British officers who greatly underestimated English losses and exaggerated the strength of the American forces. Imprint supplied by Evans. References: Evans 13842; Ford- W.C. Broadsides- 1801; ESTC W9549.
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To the publick. New-York, October 5, 1774. : By Mr. Rivere [i.e. Revere], who left Boston on Friday last ... we have certain intelligence that the carpenters and masons who had inadvertently undertaken to erect barracks for the soldiers in that town ... u

Broadside announcing Paul Revere's ride through New York and encouraging the mechanics of New York not to participate in the construction of barracks for the British soldiery. References: Evans 13674.
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The Federalist: : a collection of essays, written in favour of the new Constitution, as agreed upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787. : In two volumes. : Vol. I[-II]

Title page, introduction, table of contents, and first page of John Pintard's copy of the first complete edition of the Federalist published in book form. The Federalist is included on nearly every list of influential books because it is due, at least in part, to this work that the United States Constitution was ratified. Its 85 essays were first published in newspapers and then issued in two volumes. Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Each essay signed: Publius.
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Date Created
1788
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Alexander Anderson, A medical grammar, circa 1795

Alexander Anderson was a New York City physician and illustrator. He was the first physician at Bellevue Hospital, established in 1795 to treat patients in a yellow fever epidemic, but he is best known as one of the first American wood engravers. This is a manuscript with three pen and ink drawings done by Dr. Anderson when he was 20 years old, relating to his medical practice and his interest in engraving.
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The deceiver unmasked; or, Loyalty and interest united: : in answer to a pamphlet entitled Common sense. / By a loyal American

Title page and preface of a rebuttal to Thomas Paine's Common sense by a New York loyalist clergyman. Before it could be distributed, the printer's stock was burned by a mob; a notation on this copy says it was salvaged from the fire. Also published in Philadelphia under the title: The true interest of America impartially stated. Preface dated: February 16, 1776. Type ornament head and tail-pieces. Signatures: A-G⁶ H² (H2 verso blank). References: Bristol 4238; Adams, T. R. Amer. pamphlets, 219a; ESTC W8906.
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Date Created
1776
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Philip Van Cortlandt's Second New York Regiment of 1777 orderly books, 1779-1783, undated. Orderly book for September 26-October 30, 1781, cover and paste-down endpaper

Cover and paste-down endpaper of orderly book for September 26-October 30, 1781 kept by Barnardus Swartwout Jr., bound in canvas painted with the monogram of George III and part of the Roman numeral LXXX, indicating it previously belonged to the British 80th Regiment. The words "America to you is lost" are painted underneath; a note inside the front cover reads "Captured Lord Cornwallis & the cover of this book." The 2nd New York Regiment, under the command of Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt, was organized in late 1776 and discharged in November 1783.
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We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity,

Caption title. William Livingston's copy of the second draft of the United States Constitution, with his manuscript annotations showing changes that appear in the final version. William Livingston was Governor of New Jersey from 1776 to 1790. He joined the New Jersey Delegation to the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, and was one of the signers of the Constitution.
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Petition of 547 loyalists from New York City, November 28, 1776

Also known as the "Loyalist declaration of dependence", this was the second petition addressed to the Royal Commissioners Richard and William Howe from loyalists seeking special protection under British occupation. Their first petition, for the suspension of martial law, went unanswered; in this second, insisting that they had risked their lives and fortunes opposing "the most unnatural, unprovoked rebellion, that ever disgraced the annals of time", the loyalists sought only "some level of distinction" from the "inhabitants in general".
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John Jay's In relation to foreign nations, circa 1788

Draft in John Jay's hand of Federalist Number 64, originally published on March 5, 1788 in the Independent Journal. It bore the number 63 in the newspaper version, but was renumbered 64 in the first collected edition, published 22 March 1788. Comparison with the published version shows little change in the substance of the argument for the constitutional provisions for senatorial approval of treaties. Changes in organization and wording are substantial.
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Ulysses S. Grant letter to Robert E. Lee, Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865

The terms of surrender of General Robert E. Lee's army at Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865. One of the original impressions from the manifold on which General U.S. Grant wrote the terms of surrender, with interlinear revisions by Ely S. Parker, a Tonawanda Seneca man who had been Grant's military secretary since 1863. Parker's inscription below reads: "The above is an original in Gen. Grant's own handwriting of the terms of surrender given by him to Gen. Lee at Appomattox Court House.
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[Tracy's bootleg liquor price list, between 1920 and 1933]

One of a collection of twelve price lists for bootleg liquor and two business cards issued by liquor dealers who operated in New York City during Prohibition. The other price lists in this collection will be digitized in full at a future date. The 18th Amendment instituting national Prohibition went into effect Jan. 17, 1920, and was in force until it was repealed with the ratification of the 21st Amendment on Dec. 5, 1933.
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Clara Harris letter to Mary, 1865 April 25

Autograph letter, signed, from Clara Harris, daughter of a U.S. Senator from New York, Ira Harris, and fiancée of Henry Reed Rathbone, to Mary, dated Washington, April 25th, 1865. Clara Harris, with Rathbone, accompanied Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln to the theater on the night of April 14th, 1865, and was witness to the assassination of the President. The letter is a description of the events of that night, the grieving of the widowed First Lady, and the healing of Rathbone's stab wound.
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Siddur (Sephardic). Sabbath. English. Prayers for Shabbath, Rosh-Hashanah and Kippur, or, The Sabbath, the beginning of the year, and the Day of Atonements; : with the Amidah and Musaph of the Moadim, or solemn seasons, according to the order of the Spani

Title page only of the first Jewish prayer book published in America, which was also the first English translation of the Siddur. The John Carter Brown Library has digitized its copy of this book and made it available through the Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/prayersforshabba00unkn. New-York Historical's copy of the book will be digitized in full at a future date.
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Military topographical sketch of Haerlem Heights and plain, exhibiting the position and forms of field works and block houses which have been constructed in that neghbourhood for the defence of the City of New York by Gen'l Swift, Chief Engineer / copied

This manuscript map of Harlem is thought to have been drawn under the direction of James Renwick, whose son and namesake became a famous architect, for the Committee of Defense during the War of 1812. It includes a view of the Hudson River in the inset at the upper right. Military map. Covers the area later bounded by 85th and 135th Streets, Hell Gate and the Hudson River, Manhattan, New York (N.Y.). Shows fortifications, including batteries and redoubts. Also shows buildings, roads, streams and bridges. Relief shown by hachures, depths shown by form lines.
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Authorization for the sale of the Louisiana Territory, April 24, 1803

This document, which bears the signatures of Napoleon, Emperor of the French, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, Foreign Minister, and Hugues-Bernard Maret, Secretary of State, gave authority to François, marquis de Barbé-Marbois, to negotiate a treaty for the sale of the Louisiana Territory with Robert Livingston, United States Minister to France, and James Monroe. The Louisiana Purchase Treaty was signed six days later, April 30, 1803. The stain on the right is thought to be Madeira wine, used to toast the prospective sale.
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Novi Belgii, Novaeque Angliae nec non partis Virginiae tabula, [1655?]

The maps of Nicolaes Visscher are among the famous descendants of the Jan Jansson map of circa 1651. The successive states of the engraving can be identified by minor changes made on the original plate. Of equal interest to the actual map, however, is the inset depicting "Nieuw Amsterdam op t Eylant Manhattans." This is the third engraved view of New Amsterdam; from the beginning it must have been considered important and attractive for it was frequently copied by other map-makers.
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Legal document issued to Peter Stuyvesant, April 28, 1648

Writ of mandamus, April 28, 1648, concerning the case of Cornelis Melyn and Jochem Pietersz Cuyter, Dutch settlers who suffered losses due to the war "waged by Director Kieft unjustly and contrary to all international law" against the Native Americans. Willem Kieft was the Director of the New Netherlands from 1638 to 1647. He persecuted and massacred Native Americans, and subsequent retaliations led to Kieft's War, with devastating losses on both sides. When Melyn and Cuyter sent a petition to the Netherlands complaining about Kieft, they were banished by Peter Stuyvesant.
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To His Excellency Genl. Washington, Commander in Chief of the armies of the United States of America. : this plan of the investment of York and Gloucester has been surveyed and laid down, and is most humbly dedicated by His Excellency's obedient servant,

General Washington asked Major Sebastian Bauman, an American artillery officer and military engineer, to survey the terrain and battle positions at Yorktown, three days after the British surrendered there. It was the first large-scale battle map printed in the United States, sold by subscription only with relatively few sheets printed. New-York Historical holds two copies, one of which is believed to be Bauman's personal copy.
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Siddur (Sephardic). Sabbath. English. Prayers for Shabbath, Rosh-Hashanah and Kippur, or, The Sabbath, the beginning of the year, and the Day of Atonements; : with the Amidah and Musaph of the Moadim, or solemn seasons, according to the order of the Spani

Title page only of the first Jewish prayer book published in America, which was also the first English translation of the Siddur. The John Carter Brown Library has digitized its copy of this book and made it available through the Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/prayersforshabba00unkn. New-York Historical's copy of the book will be digitized in full at a future date.
View Item
136300-Service File.jpg
Still Image

Military topographical sketch of Haerlem Heights and plain, exhibiting the position and forms of field works and block houses which have been constructed in that neghbourhood for the defence of the City of New York by Gen'l Swift, Chief Engineer / copied

This manuscript map of Harlem is thought to have been drawn under the direction of James Renwick, whose son and namesake became a famous architect, for the Committee of Defense during the War of 1812. It includes a view of the Hudson River in the inset at the upper right. Military map. Covers the area later bounded by 85th and 135th Streets, Hell Gate and the Hudson River, Manhattan, New York (N.Y.). Shows fortifications, including batteries and redoubts. Also shows buildings, roads, streams and bridges. Relief shown by hachures, depths shown by form lines.
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John McComb, New York City Hall, front elevation, 1802

Ink, wash, and graphite. John McComb, in consultation with Joseph F. Mangin, made 105 drawings of a proposed new City Hall building, all of which are preserved in New-York Historical's library. The city fathers accepted his plans. As soon as the building was completed in 1811 it was recognized as one of the finest public buildings in America and it has remained one of the nation's architectural treasures.
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Authorization for the sale of the Louisiana Territory, April 24, 1803

This document, which bears the signatures of Napoleon, Emperor of the French, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, Foreign Minister, and Hugues-Bernard Maret, Secretary of State, gave authority to François, marquis de Barbé-Marbois, to negotiate a treaty for the sale of the Louisiana Territory with Robert Livingston, United States Minister to France, and James Monroe. The Louisiana Purchase Treaty was signed six days later, April 30, 1803. The stain on the right is thought to be Madeira wine, used to toast the prospective sale.
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136282-Service File.jpg
Still Image

Novi Belgii, Novaeque Angliae nec non partis Virginiae tabula, [1655?]

The maps of Nicolaes Visscher are among the famous descendants of the Jan Jansson map of circa 1651. The successive states of the engraving can be identified by minor changes made on the original plate. Of equal interest to the actual map, however, is the inset depicting "Nieuw Amsterdam op t Eylant Manhattans." This is the third engraved view of New Amsterdam; from the beginning it must have been considered important and attractive for it was frequently copied by other map-makers.
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Date Created
1655
Genre
Maps
136283-Service File.jpg
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Legal document issued to Peter Stuyvesant, April 28, 1648

Writ of mandamus, April 28, 1648, concerning the case of Cornelis Melyn and Jochem Pietersz Cuyter, Dutch settlers who suffered losses due to the war "waged by Director Kieft unjustly and contrary to all international law" against the Native Americans. Willem Kieft was the Director of the New Netherlands from 1638 to 1647. He persecuted and massacred Native Americans, and subsequent retaliations led to Kieft's War, with devastating losses on both sides. When Melyn and Cuyter sent a petition to the Netherlands complaining about Kieft, they were banished by Peter Stuyvesant.
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Date Created
1648-04-28
Genre
writs
136285-Service File.jpg
Still Image

To His Excellency Genl. Washington, Commander in Chief of the armies of the United States of America. : this plan of the investment of York and Gloucester has been surveyed and laid down, and is most humbly dedicated by His Excellency's obedient servant,

General Washington asked Major Sebastian Bauman, an American artillery officer and military engineer, to survey the terrain and battle positions at Yorktown, three days after the British surrendered there. It was the first large-scale battle map printed in the United States, sold by subscription only with relatively few sheets printed. New-York Historical holds two copies, one of which is believed to be Bauman's personal copy.
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