Art News

Rare Revolutionary War map, expected to exceed $1 million, to be offered at Christie’s New York

NEW YORK, N.Y.- On November 15, Christie’s will offer a very rare manuscript Revolutionary War map (estimate: $1,000,000-1,500,000) as part of its autumn Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts including Americana sale at Christie’s New York Rockefeller Center saleroom. It is the only known such manuscript in private hands―one of five known versions of this map made. The others are all in institutions or libraries. Made in New York by Hessian mapmaker Charles Auguste de Gironcourt in 1780, the monumental map (12 sheets, 83 ⅜ in x 78 in) depicts in remarkable detail the numerous battles and extensive military activity during the early years of the American Revolution. Hand drawn in pen-and-ink and watercolor, the map illustrates troop movements, natural terrain features, cities and manmade structures such as bridges and roads all along New York, New Jersey, and Long Island and down to the upper Chesapeake Ba