Historic Maps
Amos Doolittle Engraved "Map of the States of Maryland and Delaware" by a.k.a. "The Paul Revere of Connecticut"
c. 1796 Federal Period, Engraved by Amos Doolittle, Sculp. "Map of the States of Maryland and Delaware" by J. Denison, Boston, Very Fine.
An original nicely detailed Copper-Plate Engraved Map of the eastern part of Maryland and all of Delaware, measuring 8" x 10.25". Amos Doolittle was a famous Colonial engraver and silversmith, a contemporary and competitor of Paul Revere, Jr.. His illustrations and maps appear in many of the books and periodicals of the times. This is a nice example of his engraving skills. The area of Washington, DC is shown as a small diamond on the border at upper right, between Virginia and Maryland, with a few dark squares meant to represent buildings or small settlements and towns. Printed on fine, laid period paper, with some overall light tone and faint ghosting where this Map was folded over itself. Full margins present.
Amos Doolittle (May 8, 1754 " February 2, 1832) was an American engraver and silversmith, known as "The Paul Revere of Connecticut."
A self-taught artist from Cheshire, CT., Doolittle became an expert in copper plate engraving and specialized in scenes of the American Revolutionary War when in 1775 he enlisted in the New Haven company of the Governor's Guards, including a four engraving set depicting the April 19th, 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord, which were based on his first-hand reconnaissance of the battlefield. He was sought out by many early Americans eager to learn the art of engraving, including James Wilson and Ralph Earl.
Amos Doolittle was also member of the Governor's Second Company of Guards under Capt. Benedict Arnold.
The success of his first prints marked the beginning of Doolittle's artistic career. He was sought out by many early Americans eager to learn the art of engraving, including James Wilson. Doolittle established a shop in New Haven, Connecticut, on the present-day site of Yale University's Old Campus, from where he created portraits, maps, and bookplates. Doolittle died on January 30, 1832 and is buried in the Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven.