“Up From The City Streets: A Life of Alfred E. Smith” was first published in November 1927 by Grosset & Dunlap, one year before Governor Al Smith would lose the 1928 election after securing the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.
While several of artist Bernard Gussow’s (1881-1957) pieces are still available through art auctions and other websites, I was unable to locate this particular piece anywhere online, so here’s a high quality scan from the book.
Al Smith was born directly under the center of the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge’s construction on December 30, 1873. The art was likely created in the 1920s.
Watch my documentary “The Sidewalks of New York” to see the incredible story.