Many months ago, I read on Curbed about how Columbia University’s Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library was digitizing its New York Real Estate Brochure Collection (i.e., old real estate brochures). At the time, only Brooklyn was done, so I made a note to check back. Well, Manhattan has been finished, and it’s really interesting. The entries are far from comprehensive, and maddeningly, dates are rare. But if you like history and/or real estate, you’ll have a blast on the site. The collection’s main URL is http://nyre.cul.columbia.edu/, but to search by neighborhood, go to http://nyre.cul.columbia.edu/neighborhoods/view/MN24. I’ve posted a bunch here…. Click on any image below to enlarge it, and note that you can see them larger—with accompanying maps (the site is very well done)—on the Avery site.
The language used in presenting these properties for rent is almost poetic. Makes one sorry that language these days is crass and non-friendly to potential buyers/renters. Enjoyed looking at these very much…makes one long for the past and civiized language.