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RIEGEL, Jacob Jr. [Philadelphia?: 1933] University of Pennsylvania. 17 ½ x 22 ½ inches. Original two-tone print with burgundy accents. Mounted on mulberry paper, a few invisible, closed splits at lower left; overall an attractive, very good example. Original printing of a very rare pictorial map of the University of Pennsylvania. In recent decades, only a few original printings of this work have appeared on the market. In addition to illustrating the school’s buildings and historic figures, the map plays to the nostalgia of alums by including an assortment campus lore, legends, traditions, drinking establishments, heroes and characters, all delightfully illustrated. For example, one inscription reads: “this is the Big Quad Once the Athletic Field, and Later Scene of Bowl Fight, Cane Fight And Pants Fight.” An African-American figure named Sam White illustrated at bottom left was a groundskeeper at the school in the early 20th century and was known to lead the cheers for Penn’s crew team. The map is rich with historic information concerning the college’s buildings often including their founders and dates of founding. Major historic figures connected with the university are highlighted, and its past presidents are named along parts of the side and bottom margins. At top center, founders Benjamin Franklin and Rev. Dr. William Smith flank the university seal. Jacob Riegel (1889-1959) was a lifelong resident of Philadelphia and both an artist and cartographer known for his drawings of historic buildings, pictorial maps, and illustrations. He graduated from Princeton University in 1912. He worked for the architect Mantle Fielding, then joined the art department at the Ketterlinus and Company printing firm in Philadelphia.
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