American Seaman's Friend Society Membership Certificate by [New York City] - 1859

[New York], 1859. Matted. A very good copy, small repaired marginal tear, marginal stain and toning.. 1 sheet. Hand-colored steel engraving. 15 3/4 x 17 inches. This copy is dated in manuscript January 1859, but work on the certificate began in 1842 and the original engraving for the certificate was created between 1844 but prior to 1849. The scene was designed by William Wade, an artist, engraver, and draftsman active in New York between 1844 and 1852 who was also the artist and engraver of a Panorama of the Hudson River from New York to Albany from which this scene may have been taken. The engraver was Thomas Pollock, who settled in New York in 1840. The image is a harbor scene of lower Manhattan at what would become the site of the Manhattan Bridge, which shows disembarking sailors in the foreground with a view of Governor's Island from Manhattan on the right and the first Sailor's Home on the East River on the left; in the middle is a ship with the word 'Temperance' on the main mast flag. The American Seaman's Friend Society was officially founded in 1828, with trustees from such port cities as Boston, Philadelphia, Charleston, and Savannah. The first general agent was Reverend Joshua Leavitt, a temperance lecturer for the American Temperance Society and a revivalist who was an anti-slavery leader and a charter member of the Liberty Party of 1840. The Sailor's Home, with accommodations for about 300 boarders, was established by the American Seaman's Friend Society at No. 190 Cherry street, in May 1842. By 1853 it had housed 36,596. boarders. Below the image are additions in manuscript: Richard Fenney of the Congregational Society of Georgetown is made a life member for raising $70. The certificate is signed by four officers: William A. Booth, President; Rev. Israel P. Warren, Rev. Harmon Loomis, and Samuel Brown.