here - Ashley Baynton-Williams

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Rare Plan Of Philadelphia
FADEN, William Jr.
'A PLAN of the CITY and ENVIRONS of PHILADELPHIA, with the WORKS and ENCAMPMENTS of His
MAJESTY'S Forces under the Command of Lieutenant General SIR WILLIAM HOWE, K.B. LONDON.
Engraved and Published as the Act directs by W.M FADEN, Charing Cross, January 1.st 1779. [key].'
London: William Faden Jr., January 1st. 1779; copperplate engraving, border: 521 x 476 widest: 590 x 476
platemark: 622 x 496mm, in black and white, with troop positions coloured.
The paper browned from old framing, the centrefold worn, with a short tear into the printed area at right.
The capture of the Delaware River forts in 1777 confirmed British control of Philadelphia, and represents a
low point in the American struggle for independence. However, in the northern theatre, General Sir John
Burgoyne's British Army was forced to surrender at Saratoga in October 1777, and this helped bring France
into the war on the American side.
This fine plan of Philadelphia depicts the British defences around the city, as constructed by Lieutenant
General Sir William Howe in early 1778. However, by the time this plan was published, Howe had been
replaced as British commander in the Americas by Sir William Clinton, on 8th May 1778. Then, fearing that
the French would blockade the Delaware, Clinton abandoned Philadelphia on 18th June, and withdrew his
troops to New York.
On 2nd July, the American Congress reassembled for the first time at Philadelphia, with their meeting place,
the Court House, designated 'A' in the key.
Nebenzahl: Printed Battle Plans Of The American Revolution, 128; Snyder: Philadelphia, 88 (fig.59); British Library,
American War Of Independence, 124 (ill). £15,000
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