Post-Revolutionary War to Civil War
N. Currier "Ruins of the Merchant's Exchange, N.Y. : After the Destructive Conflagration of Dec.br 16 & 17, 1835."
c. 1835, J. Bufford Engraved Print titled, "Ruins of the Merchant's Exchange, N.Y. / After the Destructive Conflagration of Dec.br 16 & 17, 1835.", Published by N(athaniel) Currier Press, Matted, Choice Extremely Fine.
One of the earliest major historic N. Currier lithographs. This Conflagration event in New York City is captured in this 1835 engraved uncolored print and matted for display. Some marginal trim to better fit the mat opening not affecting the sharply detailed and well inked image on clean heavy wove print paper, one trivial edge split at lower left, overall eye-catching and impressive. Nathaniel Currier Engraved Print measures about 11.25" x 9", matted to 20" x 16". The title is fully there but lower lines lacking.
This image shows the burnt out Merchant's Exchange, with the fire still raging in the background. People milling about watching the destruction taking place on December 16 & 17, 1835. Text below the image reads; "Ruins of the Merchant's Exchange N.Y. / After the Destructive Conflagration of Dec.br 16 & 17, 1835." Publisher : N. Currier's Press. Published by J. Disturnell 156 Broadway & J. H. Bufford, 10 Beekman St.
This is one of the earliest major N. Currier lithographs. The fire represented is one of the worst in New York City's history. The temperature on December 16th was a bone chilling -17 degrees. The firemen had to chop holes in the ice in the East River to get water which then froze in the hand pumpers. The fire burned out of control for almost two days fed by gale-force winds blowing from the northwest.
Much of lower Manhattan was burned including the New York Stock Exchange and most of Wall Street. The fire began on Merchant Street (now called Beaver Street).Lacking lower publication line of "Published by J. Disturnell 156 Broadway & J. H. Bufford, 10 Beekman St." and "Copyright by J. H. Bufford, 1835."
In the cold, windy night of December 16, 1835, about 17 blocks in Lower Manhattan were destroyed by fire and two people were killed. It became known as "The Great Conflagration of 1835". The fire started about 9 P.M. in a large warehouse at 25 Merchant Street (now Beaver Street), between Hanover Square and Wall Street.
One hour later, several buildings were engulfed in flames. By 12:30 A.M., the fire was close to the Merchant Exchange. The flames raged from 16 to 24 hours, killed two people, destroyed almost 700 buildings and three or four vessels at the wharf's on South Street. At that time, the losses were estimated at twenty million dollars. On July 19, 1845, another great fire broke out in Lower Manhattan.