The City of Boston

20th century reprint of a lovely Currier & Ives view of Boston.

This is a charming aged reproduction of an iconic lithograph crafted in 1873 by the master publishing firm of Currier & Ives. It shows a sweeping aerial perspective of the city of Boston during the Gilded Age. Numerous important buildings and landmarks can be distinguished amid the urban sprawl, several of which are labeled below the image. A fascinating variety of sailing vessels and steamships crowd the harbor and numerous railroads and billowing smokestacks reflect robust local industry.

From 1835 to 1907, Currier & Ives dominated the American printmaking scene. Founded in New York City by Nathaniel Currier (partnering with James Merritt Ives in 1857), the firm produced over 7,500 lithographs, depicting everything from idyllic landscapes and bustling cityscapes to historical events and scenes of daily life. Employing renowned artists like James Buttersworth and Thomas Nast, Currier & Ives’ affordable, hand-colored prints offered a glimpse into 19th-century American culture and fostered a national identity. Though eclipsed by photography in the early 20th century, the visual legacy presented within Currier & Ives’ prints endures as valuable historical documents and cherished collectibles, resulting in numerous reprints.