Georgetown Area Folk Art Map, ca. 1950
Appraised Value:
$4,000 - $4,000
IMAGE: 1 of 1
Appraisal Video:
Appraised By:
Donald Cresswell
Prints & Posters
Co-Owner
The Philadelphia Print Shop
Appraisal Transcript:
GUEST: I bought it at a little antique shop in Hamilton, Virginia. We used to live out in Loudoun County, in Round Hill, and, um, I purchased it for $500 about three years ago.
APPRAISERS: Why did you buy it?
GUEST: I just bought it because I really liked it. I liked the colors. I thought it was interesting and...
APPRAISER: Uh-huh.
GUEST: I just, I liked the fact that it was Georgetown, and we lived near Georgetown, and so...
APPRAISER: I see. Well, it's oil paint on plywood. I think it's a very
interesting, wonderful map. I relate to it because I was born in this area.
GUEST: Oh, really?
APPRAISER: I was born at Washington Circle. It does indeed show a lot about Georgetown and Georgetown history, starting with Roosevelt Island. It was called
Roosevelt Island because Roosevelt was a conservationist, and they were conserving this island. But for anybody in Georgetown, what makes your heart beat is this little vignette here, showing the very early view of Georgetown, when it was the biggest port on the Potomac River. Now, it's interesting what they decide to show, because of the historical interest of such a map. The Oak Hill Cemetery gatehouse is still there and, of course, the major streets-- 27th, 28th, 29th Street-- are shown. Now, another great and wonderful historic site that is still in Washington is the Dumbarton Oaks house, which is now part of Harvard University. There's a museum and a library there. The United Nations were planned there. Here's another view of Georgetown here, and then, of course, coming through here with this beautiful old antique-looking compass rose. But then look at this beautiful view of Georgetown University here.
GUEST: Right.
APPRAISER: It's just absolutely charming, and... all these little details. Here's the entrance to Georgetown University. There is, indeed, a circle there. And on down to the river and Key Bridge, Francis Scott Key Bridge, and so on. I think that at an antique show, even with the, the flaws in it,
GUEST: Uh-uh.
APPRAISER: because this is essentially folk art, we don't have to document that much. It's just exuberant, and if it's in too good a condition, I find folk art collectors are suspicious.
GUEST: Right.
APPRAISER: So there's some nice chips and bumps and things like that. And I would offer it at $4,000.
GUEST: Okay. Great. Well, thank you.
