Collection of graphic materials documenting world's fairs of the latter 19th and early 20th centuries, predominantly the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 (Philadelphia) and Exposition Universelle de 1867 à Paris. Includes stereographs, trade cards, collecting cards, lantern slides, and souvenirs. Graphics also depict the Great Exhibition of 1851; New York Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations (1853-1854); the Exposition Universelle de 1867 a Paris; the Paris Universal Exposition of 1878; the Chicago World's Fair of 1893; the Pan American Exposition of 1901 (Buffalo, N.Y.); the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904 (St. Louis, Mo.); and the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition of 1926 (Philadelphia). Views show panoramas of the exhibition grounds and exteriors and interiors of exhibition buildings, including displays showing the wares and products of specific companies and countries, particularly porcelain and terra cotta; art, predominantly sculpture; and dioramas representing the social life and customs of different nations (Morocco, Japan, Sweden, and South America). Several trade cards issued during the Chicago World's Fair advertising the Enterprise Manufacturing Company of Penn'a. also contain anecdotal, caricatured scenes portraying prominent historical figures, including Abraham Lincoln, Horace Greeley, and Benjamin Franklin. Collection also contains a small number of portraiture, views of events and prominent local buildings related to the Philadelphia exhibitions, and lantern slides issued by the Centennial Photographic Company., Title supplied by cataloger., Various printers, publishers, and manufacturers including Centennial Photographic Company; Curt Teich & Co.; Donaldson Bros.; Thomas Hunter; Ketterlinus; Longacre & Co.; M. Leon & J. Levy; Pan American Exposition Co.; and Philip Frey & Co., Gift of Michael Zinman., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Series IV. Lantern slides housed separately.
Date
[1851-ca. 1920]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Michael Zinman World's Fairs Collection [P.2008.36], Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department lantern slides - Michael Zinman World's Fairs Collection [P.2008.36]