When you collect extensively in a relatively narrow field and have been conversant in the subject for more than fifty years you don’t expect to find that you’ve never seen or even heard of a primary source but that’s the case for me recently.  The book is variously titled Art Work of Ulster County and Artwork of Ulster County.  It was published by W. H. Parish Publishing, Chicago in 1893.  It’s uncommon, and my copy, hampered by a lack of title page.

 

The dealer, Carydale Books of Stanfordville, New York calls it a quarto.  That would make it 9.5” x 12.”  However, its binding measures 11” x 13.125”.  If determined by page size, they are 10.375” x 12.625.”  It’s a bit bigger, but not by much.  There is also no title page.  What I have to go on is what’s on the spine:  Art Work – Ulster County.  In the OCLC it’s described as Art work of Ulster County and described as 12 volumes in 1.  In the notes it says published as 12 volumes in 1.  Text has caption:  History of Ulster County, N. Y. by Marius Schoonmaker.  Nothing quite adds up.

 

Five institutions whose material is listed in the OCLC have copies:

 

The Library of Congress

New York Public Library

State University of New York at New Paltz

Ulster County Community College

Pennsylvania State University

 

In the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database there are 15 records under the search terms:  art work parish and the date range 1890 to 1900. However, none match Ulster County.

 

The copy I recently purchased was apparently one of many editions published by Parish in the 1890’s.  Among our records are versions for Queens County, Venango County, New Haven, Stark County, Cincinnati, Utah, Lowell and vicinity, Baltimore, Lancaster, New Jersey and Detroit. No copy at auction according to our records, has brought more than $688.  These volumes seem to live just beneath the surface.  This one cost $500.-

 

It’s an important book for Ulster County because the engravings are many, in this case 98, and the subjects well chosen.  Note that all images are full page except for those marked ½ to reflect that they are half page.

 

Images

 

1.  The Old Senate House ½
2. City Alms House – Kingston
3. Looking East From Lake Hill
4. Residence of Jesse M. Elting – New Paltz ½
5. Residence of Julius Osterhoudt – Kingston ½
6. Looking South From Rondout
7. On Albany Avenue – Kingston
8. City Hall – Kingston
9. Steam Boat Landing at Rondout
10. View of Spring from Wurts Street – Rondout ½
11. The Borden Residence 1/2
12. State Normal School – New Paltz
13. Bridge and Wallkill – New Paltz
14. Looking East From Paltz Point, Shawangunk Mountains
15. The Armory – Kingston
16. Borden’s Home Farm
17. Residence of J. N. Cordts – Rondout ½
18. Residence of E. H. Van Winkle – Stone Ridge ½
19. Glenerie Falls
20. Residence of Mrs. E. Du Bois – Ellenville ½
21. Canal and Railroad Bridge at Rosendale ½
22. Upper Hanging Rock Falls – Ellenville
23. On The Wallkill at New Paltz
24. Mink Hollow
25. View of Canal and Valley, From Mt. Meenahga ½
26. St. Elmo Mill, Borden’s Home Farm ½
27. Shade Lawn Sanitarium - Kingston
28. View of Pearl Street – Kingston ½
29. Residence of A. P. Lasher – Saugerties ½
30. Rondout and the Hudson River
31. View in Mink Hollow
32. Kingston Bank and Club ½
33. Residence of John C. Brodhead – Kingston ½
34. The Gail Borden Condensery – Wallkill
35. Esopus Creek – Saugerties
36. Residence of Andrew F. Mason – Kingston ½
37. Residence of Henry L Eriffis – New Paltz ½
38. Falls at Saugerties
39. Falls at Eddyville
40. Canal Aqueduct – High Falls ½
41. Rear View of Normal School – New Paltz ½
42. Scene at High Falls
43. Residence of Chas. A. Spaulding – Saugerties ½
44. Residence of John C. Hasbrouck – Stone Ridge ½
45. Farm View in the Esopus Valley
46. Scene at Eddyville
47. Honk Falls Near Napanoch
48. Scene in Ellenville ½
49. St. Mary’s Church and Parsonage – Ellenville ½
50. Blue Stone Docks of Hewitt Boice – Rondout
51. Street View in Ellenville ½
52. Delaware & Hudson Canal at Rock Lock ½
53. Lake Mohonk
54. Residence of S. D. Coykendale [in the Course of Construction] – Rondout ½
55. Residence of G. J. Smith [in the Course of Construction] – Rondout ½
56. Looking East on Borden’s Home Farm
57. Esopus Creek Below Glenerie
58. Borden’s Home Farm Packing Room ½
59. In the Ice Glen ½
60. Glen at the Ice Cave – Ellenville
61. Sawkill Falls at Woodstock ½
62. Country Home of Daniel Sully – Mink Hollow 1.2
63. High Bridge at Rondout
64. Along the Hanging Rock Falls – Ellenville
65. Union Street – Kingston ½
66. Residences of Jesse Elting and Jacob Deyo – New Paltz ½
67. Residence of James D. Wynkoop – Hurley
68. Antiquated Buildings – New Paltz
69. Residence of Chas. Ver Nooy – Napanoch ½
70. On John Street – Kingston ½
71. Ellenville,  from Mount Meenahga
72. Cliff at Lake Mohonk
73. View of Wallkill, from the Borden Residence ½
74. Napanoch Falls ½
75. Lower Hanging Rock – Ellenville
76. Brick Industry on the Hudson
77. Street View in New Paltz ½
78. Clinton Avenue, From St. James Street – Kingston ½
79. Honk Falls and Canon – Napanoch
80. Sky Top at Lake Mohonk
81. Old Water Wheel near Ellenville ½
82. View on the Borden’s Home Farm ½
83. Near View of High Falls
84. Maple Avenue – Ellenville ½
85. View in New Paltz ½
86. Rondout from Spring Street ½
87. Residence of Geo. B. Childs – Ellenville ½
88. Powell, Smith & Co’s Cigar Factory – Kingston
89. Mount Meenahga House ½
90. Old Residences in New Paltz ½
91. In the Ice Cave – Ellenville
92. Scene in Saugerties ½
93. On the Borden’s Farm ½
94. Delaware & Hudson Canal at Eddyville
95. Vineyard, Borden’s Home Farm
96. Reformed Church – Ellenville ½
97. Residence of Chas. Davis – Saugerties ½
98. The Brick Industry on the Hudson

 

Images have always been important but they are often few, small, and not entirely relevant.  These images are very focused on southern Ulster County.

 

With this article I’m posting 10 images.  This is quite a nice source.