1883 Franklin Square Chromolithograph Bird's-Eye View of the Brooklyn Bridge, New York City

A dramatic 1883 chromolithograph bird's-eye view capturing the opening day festivities on the Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, issued by Franklin Square Lithographic.

A Closer Look

The view looks eastward, presenting the bridge from a high point in Manhattan to the west. The Brooklyn Bridge itself dominates the image, with an orderly pedestrian parade crossing, train lines, and horse-drawn carriages. Below, the East River teams with traffic, including many tall ships, emphasizing the height and majesty of the span. Brooklyn fills the background, with the offices of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle specifically identified, suggesting they may have invested in this view.

Opening Day Celebrations

Opened May 24, 1883, thousands attended the New York and Brooklyn Bridge opening ceremony. Emily Warren Roebling (1843 - 1903), Washington Roebling's (1837 - 1926) wife and John A. Roebling's (1806 - 1869) daughter-in-law, was the first to cross. President Chester A. Arthur (1829 - 1886) attended the ceremony, and New York Mayor Franklin Edson (1832 - 1904) crossed the bridge to shake hands with Brooklyn Mayor Seth Low (1815 - 1916). Washington Roebling, the chief engineer of the project after his father's death, did not attend the ceremony but held a banquet at his house that evening. Other festivities included a dramatic fireworks display and a concert. 1,800 vehicles and 150,300 people crossed the bridge that day.

Chromolithography

Chromolithography, sometimes called oleography, is a color lithographic technique developed in the mid-19th century. The process uses multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to yield a rich composite effect. Generally, a chromolithograph begins with a black basecoat upon which subsequent colors are layered. Some chromolithographs used 30 or more separate lithographic stones to achieve the desired effect. Chromolithograph color can be blended for even more dramatic results. The process became extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it emerged as the dominant method of color printing. The vivid color chromolithography made it exceptionally effective for advertising and propaganda.

Publication History and Census

This view was published in 1883 by Franklin Square Lithographic for the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. The view is scarce with just one example in the OCLC, that being a digital holding only. We note an additional example at the Huntington Library. The view occasionally appears on the market.