Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar81911newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
240 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS June, 1911 trate it. On a small saucer is a picture of the "Chancellor Livingston" steamboat—a small side-wheel vessel which undoubtedly resembled closely the "Clermont," which Rob- ert Fulton invented in 1807 and which made regular trips between New York and Albany. Chancellor Livingston was the financial backer of Robert Fulton. The Livingston family in those early days controlled all the steamboats ply- ing up and down the Hudson River. "Thomas Gibbons, Grandfather of Mrs. Ward McAllister, tried to establish a competing line of boats, and a long litigation ensued. stitutional Governor. On May 30, 1908, the body of Governor Clinton was removed from the National Capitol and buried in Kingston, New York, the ancient capitol of the Empire State. The credit for promoting and carrying through the construction of that great waterway which connects Lake Erie with the Hudson River—a distance of 363 miles—belongs to Governor De Witt Clinton more than to any other one man, and the whole story, which would make volumes of interesting history, is suggested by the crude pictures which the Staffordshire potters have given us.
Text Appearing After Image:
'St. Patrick's Cathedral," Mott Street St. Paul's Chapel," Medallion of Washington at top; Erie Canal at Little Falls at bottom "St. Paul's Chapel" in lower Broadway Daniel Webster represented Thomas Gibbons and was suc- cessful in the final appeal before Chief Justice Marshall." Thomas Gibbons then started a line of steamboats on the Hudson and Cornelius Vanderbilt was one of his com- manders and his "Commodore." The picture on the saucer brings to mind another important historical event. In the gallery of old Federal Hall, which stood at the head of Broad Street fronting on Wall, where the United States Sub-Treasury now stands, on April 30, 1789, General Washington was inaugurated first president of the United States. Chancellor Livingston administered the oath of office to the president. The country seat of Chancellor Livingston was called "Clermont" and this is the origin of the name of our first steamboat. The building of the Erie Canal and the important part which Major General George Clinton took in that great enterprise are recorded on this old blue china. Three views along the canal are shown and there are two inscription plates eulogizing Governor Clinton—New York's first Con- Many other plates are equally rich in historical sugges- tion. Almost every kind of collecting has an insidious charm. One possessed of ample means can buy libraries of rare books and choice works of art in unlimited quantities. High bids will often secure the masterpieces of Rembrandt, Hals and other great masters of painting from the galleries of Europe. But the rarities of old blue Staffordshire are un- procurable. They are not in the market and cannot be bought. In conclusion a word of advice to new collectors: Never buy a cracked or broken plate unless it be one of the greatest rarities. Avoid plates which are a bad color— particularly the purplish blue. A poor blue plate is only worth one-half as much as the same plate in a rich dark blue color. A chipped or cracked piece, or one where the glaze is badly scratched by knife marks, is not worth having in a collection. Aim to have only proof specimens and never deviate from the rule unless the piece offered be of such rarity that a slight blemish could be overlooked.

Note About Images