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1890 Henry Wellge Bird's-Eye View of Helena, Montana
HelenaMontanaView-wellge-1890$900.00
Title
Perspective map of the city of Helena, Mont. Capital of State, county seat of Lewis & Clarke Co.
1890 (dated) 26.5 x 39.25 in (67.31 x 99.695 cm)
1890 (dated) 26.5 x 39.25 in (67.31 x 99.695 cm)
Description
A dramatic bird's-eye view of Helena, Montana, issued by the Henry Wellge and the American Publishing Company in 1890. This impressive view is a fine example of Wellge's work, which is known for monumental size and emphasis of the horizontal dimension. The view is oriented to the west and centered on Helena Avenue. Much of the city's urban development appears in the distance and is focused on Main Street. The train station appears at right. There are 15 views of important buildings and a key at the bottom of the map that identify numerically some 52 important locations. A large inset view in the lower left focuses on Lenox, Corbin, and other East Side Additions. This map appears to have been issued in two editions simultaneously. One edition with the note 'compliments of Kessler's Brewer', and another (see LC example) without. The Kessler Brewing Company (1865 – 1958) was located on Helena's far west side, just west of todays' Spring Meadow Lake.
Cartographer
Henry Wellge (1850 – 1923) was an American panoramic bird's-eye view publisher, artist, and cartographer active in Milwaukee in the late 19th and early 20th century. Wellge was born in Germany in 1850. His first view, in 1878, was of Chilton Wisconsin, but most of his early work is in association with J. J. Stoner, another prolific view maker. Eventually established his own firm Henry Wellge and Company. Later his published and Norris, Wellge and Company. Ultimately though, most of his work appears under the imprint of the American Publishing Company. He continued to publish views until about 1910 with about 152 views bearing his imprint. Wellge is known for large dramatic views illustrated with emphasis on the horizontal dimension. More by this mapmaker...
Condition
Very good. Minor restoration lower right corner. Backed with archival tissue.
References
Library of Congress Panoramic Maps (2nd ed.), 457. OCLC 5564751. Reps, John, Views and Viewmakrs of Urban America (University of Missour, Columbia, 1984), 2090.