Historical Map of New York City
- Title:
- Historical Map of New York City
- Alternate Title:
- Historical Map of New York City
- Collection:
- Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection
- Creator:
- First National City Bank of New York
- Date:
- 1932
- Date 2:
- 2024-04-25
- ID Number:
- 2350.01
- File Name:
- PJM_2350_01.jpg
- Style/Period:
- 1920 - 1939
- Subject:
- Advertising & Promotion
New York City
Money & Finance - Measurement:
- 42 x 51 (centimeters, height x width)
- Notes:
- This charming promotional pictorial map for the National City Bank of New York (predecessor of today’s Citibank) is unusual in several ways. The location of each of the Bank’s branches is indicated by a number, from the Star numbered “1” at its “Head Office” at 55 Wall Street to branch “81” on Staten Island. But there are virtually no streets shown on the map - and the only streets identified by name are Broadway and Fifth Avenue - so customers needed to consult the index on the verso to find street addresses.
Moreover, in keeping with the “Historical” title of the map, the numerous pictorial sites and events illustrated are exclusively from the 17th and 18th century, many of them obscure. Examples include “Hick’s Platt House 1643 used as Hospital during Revolution” in Brooklyn; “House of Jonas Bronck 1st Settler in Bronx 1639;” and “#1 Cherry St 1st White House Home of Col Osgood” in the Bowery. Travel to Staten Island is by “Vanderbilt Ferry.” The only features of contemporary geography are the East River and Hudson bridges - and none of these is named. Other promotional maps of New York at about this time were eager to highlight the latest landmarks, particularly the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings.
For a 1956 promotional map by the same bank - still headquartered at 55 Wall Street - see ID #1354, “How bankers ‘on the scene’ make the difference overseas.” For a very different promotional map of New York City, issued at about the same time by a competing bank, see ID #2383 (1928).
For further information on the Collector’s Notes and a Feedback/Contact Link, see https://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/content/about-collection-personal-statement and https://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/content/feedback-and-contact - Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- For important information about copyright and use, see http://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/copyright.