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Julius Bien (1826-1909) was a German-born American lithographer and cartographer, renowned for his significant contributions to American cartography during the 19th century. Born on September 27, 1826, in Naumburg, Germany, Bien originally trained in his homeland, mastering the nascent craft of chromolithography, a method for producing multi-color prints.

In the 1850s, Bien emigrated to the United States, where he set up his own lithography firm, Julius Bien & Co., in New York. His innovative techniques and meticulous attention to detail quickly earned him a reputation as one of the country's leading lithographers. The firm became known for its wide range of work, from maps and atlases to commercial prints and illustrations.

One of Bien's most significant collaborations was with the U.S. government, particularly the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). In the late 19th century, the USGS undertook the ambitious project of mapping the entire United States. Bien's firm was responsible for producing many of these topographical maps, and he introduced advanced printing techniques that enhanced their clarity, precision, and detail.

However, not all of Bien's ventures were successful. His attempt at reproducing a double elephant folio edition of Audubon's Birds of America in the 1860s, for instance, was left incomplete due to financial challenges posed by the Civil War. Despite this, many of the plates he did produce for this edition are considered masterpieces of chromolithography.

Julius Bien passed away on December 21, 1909, in New York. His contributions to lithography and cartography in the U.S. left a lasting legacy, with many of his techniques becoming standard practice in the field. His maps, in particular, serve as a testament to the evolving understanding and depiction of the American landscape during a period of rapid westward expansion and scientific exploration.

Place/Date:
New York / 1860
Size:
29 x 22 inches (including text)
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
81159
Place/Date:
New York / 1860
Size:
25 x 36 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
97451mp2
Place/Date:
New York / 1860
Size:
24 x 37 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
97452mp2
Place/Date:
New York / 1860
Size:
35 x 23.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
97453mp2
Place/Date:
New York / 1860
Size:
36.5 x 23.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
97454mp2
Place/Date:
New York / 1860
Size:
25.25 x 37.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
100546
Place/Date:
n.p. / 1902
Size:
11 x 17.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
97612

Archived

Place/Date:
New York / 1777 (1877)
Size:
31 x 22 inches
Condition:
VG-
Stock#:
m0265
Place/Date:
New York / 1876
Size:
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
73874
Place/Date:
New York / 1885
Size:
8.5 x 12.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
50899
Place/Date:
New York / 1887
Size:
32 x 24 inches
Condition:
Fine
Stock#:
1797
Place/Date:
New York / 1889
Size:
23 x 23 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
1929
Place/Date:
New York / 1895
Size:
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
47669
Place/Date:
New York City / 1900 circa
Size:
14 x 16 inches
Condition:
Stock#:
62656