Early view of Phila. on exhibit

W. Graham Arader 3d, a dealer in rare maps and prints with an international reputation, lives and works in New York City, but his heart remains tied to Philadelphia.

A symbol of his passion for the city where he grew up - a magnificent set of engravings depicting the Philadelphia waterfront in the middle of the 18th century - went on display yesterday at Arader Galleries at 1308 Walnut St., site of the former Charles Sessler book shop.

"It's a true masterpiece, an icon of Philadelphia history," Arader said by telephone from New York. "It is the first and most accurate view of what the city looked like. Among the cognoscenti, this is the great prize."

"It's the most important piece of Philadelphiana that we've ever had the privilege of owning," said Lori Cohen, director of the gallery and a partner in the business. "It shows how built-up and thriving the city was."

The view of the burgeoning city as seen from New Jersey covers about a mile of the waterfront from South Street to Vine Street. The panorama fills four folio sheets that together span nearly seven feet.

The 1754 engravings were commissioned by William Penn's sons and grandson to advertise Philadelphia to Europeans and attract more entrepreneurs, merchants and settlers. Local artist George Heap created the detailed rendering in collaboration with surveyor Nicholas Scull.

Referred to informally as the "Scull and Heap View of Philadelphia," this set of engravings is the last in private hands, Cohen said. Six other copies are known to exist, held by institutions.

Arader, 58, paid $296,500 for the engravings when they were auctioned at Christie's in early December. They were offered for sale by Episcopal Academy, which owned them for decades. Arader, whose children briefly attended the school, said he tried several times over the years to purchase the prints from Episcopal, but the school only recently decided to sell.

Ham Clark, head of school at Episcopal, which moved last year to a new campus in Newtown Square, said the school realized about $250,000 from the sale, which went into the general endowment for such purposes as faculty salaries and financial aid. The school retains copies of two similar scenes, Clark said.

After the engravings were acquired, they were treated to the finest conservation techniques, Cohen said. The paper was deacidified and mat stains were removed. The prints were then placed in four handsome frames and shielded by Plexiglas, which blocks ultraviolet light.

The "Scull and Heap View of Philadelphia" is the star attraction of a two-month exhibit at the gallery of maps, prints, paintings and watercolors showing the development of Philadelphia in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Like everything else on display, it's for sale. The price: $400,000.

"If someone wants to buy it, I will sell it to them, but I'm not a motivated seller," Arader said. "I'm happy to keep it for a few years."