(Brooklyn, New York), May 5, 1806. One sheet, 8 x 13 1/2 in. (203 x 343 mm). Hand-colored manuscript lot map drawn and signed by Jeremiah Lott, captioned "A Map of Clarkson's and Depeyster's Lot and Dock situated in the Town of Brooklyn in the County of Kings, protracted according to the magnetic meridian by a Scale of 30 feet to an inch the 5th day of May 1806." Manuscript compass rose at top right. Docketing on verso "Recd. New York 10th May 1806 of Justin & J.C. Foote Four 50/100 Dollars in full for surveying & plotting the within wharf & lot - Jeremiah Lott." Also docketed on verso with title "Plan of Wharf at Brooklyn." Creasing from old folds, two large dampstains affecting text and map, bottom margin worn with some loss; scattered foxing.

Rare and original hand-drawn map by early New York surveyor Jeremiah Lott (1776-1861), described by historian Henry R. Stiles as "...then the leading, if not the only surveyor in Kings County..." (History of the City of Brooklyn, p. 55). Originally from Flatbush, Lott's work in the region that would become Brooklyn was pivotal to its greater development.

Although sparsely populated during the Post-Revolutionary period, Brooklyn in the early 19th century was about to undergo a phase of dramatic change and urbanization. In 1814, American inventor Robert Fulton's steamboat company began a regularly scheduled service across the East River at Fulton's Ferry. The amount of merchants and landowners in the area increased exponentially, and the village was first incorporated by charter in 1816. Jeremiah Lott was commissioned by the fledgling municipal government shortly afterwards to draw his important "First Village Map" based on his earlier survey work such as this example.

Rare. We are able to locate only one other manuscript map by Jeremiah Lott in the available auction record.