This is an original ( not a reproduction ) map of Havana of 1857 extracted from "Album Pintoresco de la Isla de Cuba' of Jose M. de la Torre y de la Torre based on his original work of 1849.

The inset placed on the upper right corner says as follows: 'Plano Pintoresco de La Habana, con los numeros de las casas, dedicado por el autor a la memoria de su tio el Sr. Coronel D. Antonio Maria de la Torre y Cardenas, 1857, escala en varas castellanas.'

Engraver: William S. Barnard ( 1774-1849 ).

The map is printed one side only and measures about 36 x 27.5 centimeters, is complete ( except for a minute loss of paper in the center lower part of map ) and it is in very reasonable condition given its age. It shows pre-folding marks and some toning from age. Refer to pictures for additional details.

José María de la Torre y de la Torre (1815-73) was a Cuban geographer, archaeologist, historian, and educator. De la Torre’s 1849 Plano Pintoresco de La Habana con los números de las casas (Picturesque map of Havana with house numbers) has great importance from a geographic point of view. The map shows the names of the streets, house numbers, promenades, fortifications, and public buildings, and the division of the city by neighborhoods. The scale is in varas castellanas (Castilian yards, an old unit of measurement that varied with time and place, equivalent to about 0.84 meters). 

 An inset map in the lower right shows the port of Havana and nearby areas, including the fortifications of El Morro, La Punta, and La Cabaña.