Series of trade cards depicting Centennial Exhibition buildings, historic sites, and a bird's eye view of the grounds. Views show "Bird's eye View"; Women's Pavilion; Machinery Hall; Horticultural Hall; "Independence Hall. 1st U.S. Congress"; Judge's Hall; and Agricultural Building. Majority of views also show pedestrian traffic. Images of exhibition buildings include length, width, and acres measurements. Majority of the buildings were built after the designs of Herman Schwartzmann, Henry Pettit and Joseph M. Wilson. The centennial of the United States was celebrated through an international exhibition of industry, agriculture, and art in West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. The American B.H.O. Sewing Machine Co. was established in Philadelphia in 1867 and the firm introduced the New American machine in 1873. The company remained in business until circa 1896., Title supplied by cataloger., Contains several lines of advertising text printed on verso. Text begins "We will give away at the close of the Centennial Exposition the fine Machine on Exhibition, at our Pavilion, Machinery Hall" and promotes the New American as "complete, simple, and perfect" with a self threading shuttle, self adjusting tension, and self setting needles; as well as monthly cash payments; to examine the machine before purchasing it; the agents wanted; and to send for a price list and illustrated catalog. Text also describes the machine as never skipping a stitch; no holes to thread through; and the only one in the world to work elegant button holes... and makes the "'over and over' stitch for sheets and pillow-cases.", Two of the prints contain imprint: Printed in Machinery Hall, E, 28., Prints stamped with "holder of this Card, No." Numbers include: 9250; 17649; 18195; 17810; 11646; 5768; and 19821., One of prints [P.2008.36.89] numbered in upper left corner: No. 6., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of Michael Zinman.
Date
[c1875]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Michael Zinman World's Fairs Collection - Trade cards [P.2008.36.83-89]
