About this sheet
This antique map of Buffalo, published by Rand McNally in 1899 on page 64 of its indexed atlas, plans the city along the Niagara River and the head of Lake Erie, with Fort Erie on the Canadian shore in a contrasting tint.
The international boundary runs down the centre of the river. The city grid runs back from the tightly built wards near the harbour to the more spacious northern suburbs, with Delaware Park, its lake and the adjoining Forest Lawn Cemetery forming a broad green swath through the middle of the map, and the New York State Insane Asylum marked on the western edge of the park. Kenmore lies just beyond the city limits to the north, and Cazenovia Park is marked in the southeast, part of the same park system as Delaware Park.
The harbour, the breakwater and the Erie Basin at the foot of the city are drawn in some detail, as are the stock yards and freight terminals on the east side, where the New York Central, Hudson River, Erie and Lehigh Valley lines converged. The city is printed in pink, the parks and cemeteries in green and the Niagara River and Lake Erie in blue. The plate is captioned as the firm's New Business Atlas Map of Buffalo, with copyright dates in the late 1890s, and scale bars in statute miles and kilometres sit at the lower left.
Rand, McNally and Company grew out of a Chicago printing business started in the 1850s by William Rand, who was soon joined by Andrew McNally. By the 1890s the firm was one of the leading map publishers in the United States, and this sheet belongs squarely to the railroad and commercial maps it was known for, revised from issue to issue.
In technique it is a lithograph printed in colour, with the black outline printed first and the pastel colours printed over it. Once framed, this antique map of Buffalo would suit a home or office in the city today, and it will appeal to collectors of American city plans and local history.
The sheet is in good condition for its age, with light age toning, a few small spots in the margins and minor handling wear to the sheet edges. Please review the images for further condition details.
This is an original antique map, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed.
