DIAMOND MINING IN SOUTH AFRICA; SPECTACULAR VIEW OF NEW YORK CITY!

crw_4680.jpgTHE SOUTH AFRICAN DIAMOND FIELDS - TWO SUPERB SKETCHES
AMAZING DOUBLE PAGE CENTERFOLD OF NEW YORK IN 1870

Harper’s Weekly
New York
November 19, 1870

This “fully loaded” issue of the legendary illustrated newspaper contains not one, but two large sketches and a full description of a visit to the recently-discovered diamond mines in South Africa.  The first is captioned: “WASHING FOR DIAMONDS AT THE NEW DIAMOND FIELDS IN SOUTH AFRICA.” Sketch no. 2 reads: “DIAMOND MINERS GAMBLING AT NIGHT.”

And, for an amazing bonus there is a double page balloon’s-eye illustration of New York City (I can’t stop looking at it!) headed: “BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE SOUTHERN END OF NEW YORK AND BROOKLYN, SHOWING THE PROJECTED SUSPENSION BRIDGE OVER THE EAST RIVER, FROM THE WESTERN TERMINUS IN PRINTING-HOUSE SQUARE, NEW YORK.”  Our scans don’t begin to do this sketch justice–it’s that good. I would remove it for professional framing. What a conversation piece!

There are many other interesting illustrations including an early balloon flight made some 33 years before the Wright Brothers flew their biplane over Kitty Hawk.

This is the original and complete 20-page issue of Harper’s in very fine condition. It even has the original subscriber’s label at the top left. Don’t delay on this one–it’s a perfect gift for your favorite jeweler!

$270

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Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under Late 19th Century, All Historic Newspapers