Back Bay Before the Fill, 1855

Description

The Back Bay is still underwater, but the streets are already planned. This 1855 Colton atlas map shows a dotted grid extending west from the Public Garden into the tidal flats. Projected streets based on David Sears' acquisition of the mudflats in the 1840s. One proposal even included an oval lake in the center of the new neighborhood. The decorative vine border and pastel color washes mark this as a steel-engraved atlas plate from J.H. Colton & Co. in New York, the kind of map a prosperous household would have framed.

The dotted street grid west of the Public Garden. Those are the planned Back Bay streets, laid out over water that hadn't been filled yet.
The oval shape sketched into the Back Bay grid: an unrealized plan for a lake at the center of the new neighborhood.
The vine border framing the map is characteristic of Colton's atlas plates from the 1850s. Decorative geography for the parlor wall.

Design

Every poster is printed on heavyweight 250gsm matte archival paper with a smooth, uncoated finish.

All prints are high-quality reproductions made from museum-grade scans at 300 DPI. Depending on the original scan dimensions, some prints may include white fill along the edges.

Shipping & Returns

Prints are made to order. Production takes 3–7 business days, then standard shipping arrives in 5–10 business days (free on all US orders). You'll get a tracking email as soon as your order ships. Full rates and delivery times on our shipping policy.

Because every print is made to order, we can't accept returns for change of mind or wrong-size selection. If your order arrives damaged or defective, email support@foliomaps.co within 30 days of delivery with your order number and a photo — we'll send a free replacement or a full refund, your choice. Full details on our refund policy.