MEMOIR, PREPARED AT THE REQUEST OF A COMMITTEE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AND PRESENTED TO THE MAYOR OF THE CITY, AT THE CELEBRATION OF THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW YORK CANALS

New York: Corporation of New York, 1825. First Edition. Hardcover. Light to moderate foxing, but generally a Near Fine and special copy of this rare and attractive book. Quarto (7-3/4" x 9-3/4"), bound in full gilt-decorated calf leather with the city seal blindstamped on both covers, neatly rebacked with the original spine laid down; v, [3], 408, [2] pages. Illustrated with the 47 listed lithographs, many folding, including 2 large folding hand-colored maps, as well as 8 lithographed facsimiles of testimonial letters by John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and the Marquis de Lafayette, and a few lithographs not listed. All lithographs were executed by Anthony Imbert, whom Harry Peters called the pioneer lithographer of New York City, after drawings by Asher B. Durand and others, including at least 3 by George Catlin. One of the first recorded American books illustrated with lithographs. Howes C-562; American Imprints 20118; Peters, America on Stone, pp. 228-232. An important volume, commemorating the greatest feat of American engineering to that date, the opening of the Erie Canal connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. This copy with the name in gilt on the front cover of Samuel L. Mitchill. There is a portrait of Mitchill in the book engraved by Asher Durand. The front endpaper contains an inscription by Mitchill dated 1827 to his brother, Singleton, mentioning that he had received two copies of the book and was giving him this one. On the next blank page is an inscription dated 1849 by Singleton to his grandson. At the end of the book are bound a number of blank pages but for two which contain manuscript descriptions of Signals for the Grand Canal Celebration Fleet of Steam Gallies, with several small watercolors of flags.

Samuel L. Mitchill was a founding editor of The Medical Repository, the first medical journal in the United States, as well as a member of both the United States Congress and Senate. Mitchill strongly endorsed the building of the Erie Canal, sponsored by his friend and political ally DeWitt Clinton, and gave a speech at its dedication. Mitchill suggested renaming the United States of America Fredonia, combining the English "freedom" with a Latinate ending. His suggestion was not taken seriously, though some towns took on the name. He was known for his widespread knowledge, Thomas Jefferson considering him the "Congressional Dictionary."