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Sold as is, as shown. This antique edition of New Guide to Washington: Containing a History and General Description of the Metropolis... is an exceptional artifact of 19th-century Americana. Published by Robert Farnham in Washington between 1847 and 1848, the volume was authored by George Watterston, a foundational figure in American curation who served as the 3rd Librarian of Congress. What elevates this specific piece to an elite collector status is its intimate, direct provenance links. The front endpaper showcases a striking, bold ownership inscription reading: "D. A. Watterston, No 224 Second St. S.E., Washington D.C." [1]
This signature belongs to David A. Watterston, a prominent Washington real estate administrator and the author's own son. The address proudly noted in the inscription is the historic George Watterston House on Capitol Hill—a Federal rowhouse constructed in 1802 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This explicit connection provides unbroken physical evidence that this rare copy remained safe within the author's own family estate, passed down directly to his son. [1]
Regarding internal condition, please note that the "New and Correct Map" bound in the back is torn but still whole and complete, allowing all cartographic details to remain fully present. This unique, father-to-son family provenance makes it an unmissable acquisition for serious antique book enthusiasts and historians of early District of Columbia heritage.
