Description
Title: Historic Maps of Philadelphia: A History of the City of Brotherly Love in Rare Maps
Author: Christopher W. Lane and Natalie Pompilio
Size: 9 x 12
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 176
ISBN: 9781681066769
Price: $42.00
This product is listed as a preorder. Books will ship starting September 1, 2026.
Since its founding in the 1680s, Philadelphia has been a city on the move. What began as a small British colony grew to become the capital of a new nation and is now a modern metropolis, home to 1.6 million people. All of its changes have been documented by maps—hundreds, perhaps thousands of them—with each telling a unique story shaped by their makers’ understanding of the world.
It’s impossible to tell the history of a place without the use of maps. This curated collection uses maps as primary sources to document Philadelphia’s evolution. It starts with the Indigenous Lenni Lenape, who called this area home for generations. It ends in the mid-20th century, during the growth of the nation’s highway system. In between, these maps chart the growth of industries, historic injustices, unexpected innovations, and moments of celebration.
Authors Natalie Pompilio and Christopher W. Lane have created a book that is as informative as it is beautiful. Each map is accompanied by a short essay as well as illustrations and photos that provide details and context. Those who know the city well will find something surprising in its text. Those who are only just getting acquainted with Philadelphia will want to know more.
AUTHOR
Christopher W. Lane has worked in antique maps and prints for more than 40 years, first with The Philadelphia Print Shop and later with The Philadelphia Print Shop West in Denver. Chris has come to be recognized as one of the country’s experts in this field, as evidenced by his 22-year stint as print and map expert on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow. Chris has written numerous scholarly catalogues, articles, and books, including the Ewell Newman Award-winning Parorama of Pittsburgh. He has lectured extensively and curated museum and library exhibitions. Chris currently is an appraiser, consultant, lecturer, and author.
Natalie Pompilio is an award-winning journalist who has called Philadelphia home for more than 20 years. She’s not a historian, but she is a storyteller, and uncovering forgotten tales from the city’s history has become a passion. She is the author or coauthor of Philadelphia Murals and the Stories They Tell; Philadelphia A to Z; Walking Philadelphia: 30 Walking Tours Exploring Art, Architecture, History, and Little-Known Gems; This Used to Be Philadelphia; and Philadelphia: A Walk Through History. She lives in the Queen Village neighborhood with her husband, Jordan Barnett, and two tuxedo cats, Bonnie and Clyde.
