A rare and collectable version of Andrew Ellicott (1754-1820) famous plan of the intended new capitol city of Washington. It is identified on the OCLC as being from the “Encyclopedia Perthensis” published in Perth, Scotland. This however is not the plan usually associated with this work. Supporting evidence is given by the imprint lower centre which reads ‘T. Clerke Sculpt. Edinh.’ Thomas Clerk was an engraver active in Edinburgh at the time and the paper is also watermarked 1805. The original of Ellicott’s plan was engraved in Boston by Samuel Hill. The “Encyclopaedia Perthensis or Universal Dictionary of Knowledge” was published between 1796-1806. In 1770 the first printing press was set up in Perth by George Johnston. He printed amongst other works the ‘Perth Magazine’ for Robert Morison (d.1791), the Postmaster. In 1775 he acquired the Press and it continued with success. In time his sons, James (1762-1809) and Robert (1764-1853), also joined the firm. In 1796 the firm was joined by James’ son William (1780-1806), it was he who printed the “Encyclopedia Perthensis” for C. Mitchel.

The plan itself is drawn from the design of Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a French architect who fought in the Revolutionary war. Its rarity is indicated by the fact it is not mentioned in any of the carto-bibliographies on Washington Plans. It is not in Baynton-Williams, Phillips, Verner. cf Phillips, P.L. (DC) PW 17 (Hill version); cf Wheat & Brun no. 530 (Hill version); not in Verner in ‘Imago Mundi’ 23 pp. 59-72.