LAFAYETTE, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de, Continental General. Calligraphic presentation album from the New York City Common Council, covers titled in gilt "Tribute of Respect from the City of New York. To General Lafayette the Illustrious Friend of Civil Liberty. To the Champion & Friend of the United States in the Day of Her Adversity. Omnia Reliquit Rempublicam Servare." Manuscript by several calligraphers and artists, including Inman Hummings and Charles Burton, WITH 8 FULL-PAGE WATERCOLORS IN GRISAILLE, INCLUDING VIEWS OF THE CAPITOL IN WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK'S CITY HALL, with official seal of New York at end, SIGNED BY LAFAYETTE, PRESIDENT JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, the Mayor of New York and others. [New York, 1825]. Oblong folio, 410 x 545 mm., 74 pages, heavy woven paper, text and drawings on rectos only. AN IMPORTANT SIGNED AMERICAN BINDING: scarlet straight-grained morocco gilt, covers paneled in gilt and blind, central panel with gilt-lettered text as above, spine elaborately gilt and gilt-lettered, spine stamp-signed by "Joseph Forster, binder, N.York," turn-ins gilt, pale green watered silk doublures and end pages, gilt edges, extremities slightly rubbed, several leaves loose in binding. Enclosed in an original wooden presentation box lined in purple velvet, brass lock with key. THE CITY OF NEW YORK'S TRIBUTE TO THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE A spectacular presentation album executed by a team of artists and artisans in the most elaborate fashion, prepared for and presented to the Marquis de Lafayette on his New York visit during his epic tour of America, 1824-1825. The album presents, in fine ornamental calligraphy, the full texts of the welcoming addresses by various officials and groups and Lafayette's response; these include President Adams' invitation; salutory addresses by the Common Council; The Mayor, William Paulding; the army; the New York bar; insurance companies; faculty of Columbia College and others. The finely executed watercolors include views of the West side of the U.S. Capitol, New York's City Hall, Fort Lafayette (in the narrows), a triumphal arch celebrating the Erie Canal, and various decorative compositions. (A list of page by page contents is available on request). Provenance: Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834); the present owners, by descent.