Bernard Ratzer’s Plan of the City of New York, in North America: Surveyed in the Years 1766 & 1767 is the most comprehensively detailed and accurate map of the City at the time of the American Revolution. The “upper half” of the two-section map shows Manhattan; the “lower half” shows Brookland Parish (Brooklyn) and Governour’s Island.

Manhattan’s population was about to reach 25,000. Most of the island was still in its natural state of forest and salt meadows as indicated by the finely engraved map’s incredible detail – all of which is clearly shown in our Perfect Recreation™. The map shows with equal clarity a number of cultivated fields and large manors. This is a uniquely detailed view of the topography of pre-development Manhattan.

The colonial Brooklyn was largely agricultural; its population was below 20,000. Extensive areas of forest and salt meadow represent the natural topography of pre-development New York. The Brooklyn map section includes the “key” to numbered Brooklyn features as well as Manhattan landmarks including Fort George, Trinity Church, The Exchange and various English military installations.

It also features a wonderful landscape drawing of lower Manhattan and the harbor as seen from Governor’s Island. Please use the “zoom” function to explore the extraordinary details of both maps.

About Bernard Ratzer

Bernard Ratzer was an exceptionally skilled military engineer who was recruited by the British Army and sent to America during the French and Indian War. He combined extremely precise cartography with intricate artistic detail.