Rare Old Map of Harlem, NYC by Bromley, 1879: Morningside Heights, Riverside Park, Leake & Watts Orphan Asylum, Bloomingdale Insane Asylum
-
FREE delivery in 2 to 3 days
Free delivery in 2 to 3 days
Your map should be delivered in 2 to 3 working days with free delivery, worldwide.
We make maps by hand locally in 23 countries, including the USA
![]()
. If you're buying a gift for someone in another country, we will make the map locally to them.You will never pay import tax or customs duty.
Free delivery will gradually get slower towards Christmas, as postal services start to struggle with larger volumes of post. I recommend ordering sooner rather than later to make sure you get everything with time to spare. Check my Christmas delivery guide for more info.
Express delivery is available at checkout which can reduce the delivery time to 1-2 days.
Please note that personalised maps, and larger framed maps, can take longer to produce and deliver.
If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, contact me and we can discuss your options.
-
Certified sustainable +
we plant trees🌳
Sustainability & Tree Planting
Here at The Unique Maps Co., we have an unusually high affinity for paper. After all, without paper, there can be no maps!
That's why all of our paper, frames and packaging are from FSC certified sources.
But we don't stop there. We've partnered with Treeapp to plant trees around the world.
If you spend $60 or more, we'll plant a tree in your name.
- Framing & personalisation available
-
60 day money back guarantee
60 days to return and refund
Products can be returned within 60 days for a full refund, or exchange for another product.
Our usual returns window is 30 days, but to give you extra peace of mind during the Christmas period, we have an extended returns period of 60 days.
For personalised and customised items, we may offer you a non-expiring gift card, as we cannot resell personalised orders.
If you have any questions, get in touch. For more information, see our full returns & exchanges policy.
My maps are rare, museum-grade, restored old maps sourced from libraries, auction houses and private collections across the globe.
Custom size and finish
If you are looking for a size or finish that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.
Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.
You can also contact us before you order, if you prefer!
"Part of ward 12, New York City," a captivating hand-colored lithograph created by G.W. Bromley in 1879, offers a detailed glimpse into the urban fabric of New York City during the late 19th century. This exquisite map showcases the intricate layout of Morningside Heights, a neighborhood renowned for its rich history and architectural splendor. The meticulous detailing of buildings, ward boundaries, and original farm lines provides a fascinating insight into the development patterns of this iconic area, making it a valuable artifact for both historians and enthusiasts of urban evolution.
The map covers 8th to 11th Avenues, from West 101 St to West 121 St.
One of the most striking features of this map is its depiction of significant landmarks such as the Leake & Watts Orphan Asylum and the Bloomingdale Insane Asylum, now the prestigious Columbia University. These institutions played pivotal roles in the social and architectural history of New York City, and their presence on the map underscores the area's importance as a hub of educational and social services. The map's annotations and detailed representation of these landmarks offer a unique window into the past, highlighting the evolution of these institutions over time.
The inclusion of prominent parks like Morningside Park and Riverside Park adds another layer of historical significance to this map. These green spaces were crucial in shaping the urban landscape, providing much-needed recreational areas for the city's residents. The map's detailed portrayal of these parks, complete with original water courses and block dimensions, reflects the importance of urban planning and the city's commitment to creating a balanced environment that catered to both residential and recreational needs.
The map also intricately details the network of streets and avenues that crisscrossed the area, including notable thoroughfares such as Amsterdam Avenue, Riverside Drive, and Claremont Avenue. This comprehensive depiction of the city's infrastructure not only highlights the complexity of urban development but also serves as a testament to the meticulous planning that went into creating a functional and accessible city. The inclusion of fire hydrants, steam and street railways, and water mains further underscores the map's utility as a tool for urban management and planning.
G.W. Bromley's expertise as a mapmaker is evident in the precision and artistry of this map. Known for his detailed atlases of urban areas, Bromley's work remains a valuable resource for understanding the historical and architectural evolution of cities. This map of part of ward 12, New York City, is a prime example of his craftsmanship, offering a rich tapestry of historical data that continues to captivate and inform. Whether for its historical value, artistic merit, or urban insights, this map is a remarkable addition to any collection.
Streets and roads on this map
- 10th Avenue
- 11th Avenue
- 12th Avenue
- 8th Avenue
- 9th Avenue
- West 101 St to West 121 St.
- Amsterdam Avenue
- Bloomingdale Road
- Boulevard
- Claremont Avenue
- Columbus Avenue
- Convent Avenue
- Edgecombe Avenue
- Eleventh Avenue
- Grant Avenue
- Manhattan Avenue
- Morningside Avenue
- New Avenue
- Riverside Avenue
- Riverside Drive
Notable Features & Landmarks
- Leake & Watts Orphan Asylum
- Bloomingdale Insane Asylum
- Morningside Heights neighborhood
- Morningside Park
- Riverside Park
Historical and design context
- Name of the map: Part of ward 12, New York City.
- Hand colored lithographed map: The map is hand-colored, which was a common practice at the time to distinguish different areas and features.
- Maps in the atlas show:
- Buildings
- Fire hydrants
- Steam and street railways
- Original water courses
- Original farm lines
- Ward boundaries
- Water mains
- Block dimensions
- When the map was made: 1879
- Mapmaker or publisher: G.W. Bromley
- Context about the mapmaker: G.W. Bromley was known for creating detailed atlases of urban areas, particularly in the northeastern United States. His maps are valuable historical resources for understanding urban development in the 19th century.
- Topics and themes shown on the map:
- Urban development: Detailed depiction of buildings and infrastructure in part of ward 12, New York City.
- Public institutions: Includes notable institutions like the Leake & Watts Orphan Asylum and Bloomingdale Insane Asylum.
- Parks and recreation: Shows large parks such as Morningside Park and Riverside Park.
- Countries and regions shown on the map: New York City, United States
- Context about the design or style of the map: The map is a hand-colored lithograph, which was a popular method in the 19th century for producing detailed and colorful maps.
- Historical significance or context of the map: The map provides a snapshot of urban development in New York City in the late 19th century, showing the layout of streets, buildings, and significant public institutions of the time.
Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.
This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.
The model in the listing images is holding the 24x36in (60x90cm) version of this map.
The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.
If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.
Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.
This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.
This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.
For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.
Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.
If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.
I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.
All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.
I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.
If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).
We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.
My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.
I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.
Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.
Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.
All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.
Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.
If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.
My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.
I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.
My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.
I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.
I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.
Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.
Map personalisation
If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.
The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.
To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.
Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.
Map ageing
I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.
Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.
All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.
If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!
If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.
If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.
I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.
I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.
Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.
Or try searching for something!
