AE Monthly

Article Archives Search

AE Reviews


Fairs and Expositions from Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers Fairs and Expositions from Charles Wood. By Michael Stillman Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers has issued a catalogue of Fairs and Expositions. Wood catalogues generally focus on a particular subject, often a very targeted niche, but then provide an amazing collection of items within the area. This well describes Catalogue 123. It is a collection of publications from various national and world fairs, from the 1798 Paris Industrial Exposition to the 1933 Chicago Century of Progress Exposition. The first serious French industrial exhibition took place in 1798. The exhibition was located in a Paris hotel, and displays included furniture, tapestry, bookbinding, clocks, art, carpets, silk, porcelain and more. Altogether there were 110 exhibitors, and this became the first of a series of exhibitions that would continue for half a century. Item 1 is a catalogue from it, Exposition Publique Des Products de L'Industrie, and participants soon learned that it could be an effective advertising vehicle. One quaint oddity is that the cover dates it from the year 6. It isn't really that old. It was from the sixth year after the French Revolution, also known as 1798. Priced at $4,500. In 1825, the Franklin Institute of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of Mechanic Arts published its First annual report... This report included a catalogue of the exhibition they held in 1824. Among the categories displayed were iron and copper works, chemicals, machines, glass, cotton and woolen goods, paints, musical instruments, and straw bonnets. Names of manufacturers and prices are provided. Item 16. $350. In 1851, the British held a major international exhibition to celebrate the technological advances of the era. A behemoth structure of iron and glass, known as the Crystal Palace, was built to house the exposition. It was a huge success, with over 6 million people viewing over 13,000 exhibits. When the exposition was over, the Crystal Palace was taken down and then reassembled on new grounds, where it stood until destroyed by fire in 1936. One of the most important fair books is the official report on the competitions which took place at the fair: Exhibitions of the Works of Industry of All Nations. Item 35. $750. Item 36 is a Washington printing pertaining to the London fair. It is the Proceedings of the Central Committee of the United States in the Industrial Exhibition of 1851. This is a rare 1850 pamphlet encouraging U.S. participation in the event and offers useful guidance. $200.
Fairs and Expositions from Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers A rare souvenir from the 1887 St. Louis Exposition. Item 37 is a strange, evidently humorous book about the London fair. It is written in a Lancashire dialect, and the title goes like this: O ful, tru, un pertikler okeawnt...we gooin too th' Greyt Eggshibishun, e Lundun... If you look carefully, you will notice this isn't some strange language, but an exaggerated English dialect, obviously meant to poke fun at the country folk. If you're having trouble understanding the lingo, it offers a "Dikshunayre fur thoose us ur noane so fur larn't." This 1851 farce must have been popular, as it is described as the "thurd edishun." The author was "O Felly from Rachde." $150. The first American exposition patterned upon the London international exhibition was held in New York in 1853. The book, edited by D Silliman and C.R. Goodrich, is The world of science, art and industry illustrated from examples in the New-York Exhibition of 1853-54. A domed iron structure was built for the fair, and its plan, as well as those for other structures which were not selected, are provided. This report includes 500 wood engravings. Item 59. $450. America's centennial was a year of great celebration. The official fair was held in Philadelphia in 1876. Between 1880 and 1884, the federal government printed the official report of this exposition, eleven volumes in all. Without having actually read them myself, I'm going to guess that this must be a very complete report. The Reports of the United States Centennial Commission are available as item 115. $1,500. Here is an exhibition that was not so well known. In fact, Wood says he cannot find any other records pertaining to it. It was held in St. Louis in 1887, at the "St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall." As best I can tell, there was an association that ran this hall and held exhibitions there during the latter part of the 19th century. The hall was torn down to make way for the Central Library, which was completed in 1912. This obscure publication is called St. Louis Exposition souvenir, 1887 and historical review of the great expositions of the world. Along with describing the St. Louis expo, it covers many others, from the French industrial exhibition of 1798 to the New Orleans Cotton and Industrial Exhibition of 1884. Evidently, the promoters were trying to associate their exposition with the great ones, although it appears to have been much more of a local show with a focus on musical events. Item 157. $200. The next major exposition came in Paris in 1889. This is the one for which the Eiffel Tower was built. Wood offers L'Exposition de Paris (1889) publice avec la collaboration d'ecrivan speciaux. This book contains many illustrations of the technology of constructing the fair buildings, the Eiffel Tower in particular. Originally published as 80 weekly parts, it is here printed in two volumes. Item 166. $1,150.
Fairs and Expositions from Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers none Perhaps the most important of all American fairs was the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It was held to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. Over 25 million visitors attended this fair, which featured electrical lighting, a new invention many had never seen. This fair also featured the first midway, where the Ferris Wheel was introduced. Item 177 is Official Views of the World's Columbian Exposition issued by the Department of Photography. It includes 115 plates and is likely the best collection of photographs of the fair. $225. Not all fairs are remembered so fondly. The 1901 Buffalo exposition may well be the worst. It was a financial disaster, losing over $3 million. This was not the worst of it. It is best remembered as the place where President William McKinley was assassinated on September 6, 1901. The President was shot twice by an anarchist while visiting the Temple of Music. Modern medicine would have undoubtedly saved McKinley, who at first appeared to be recovering, but gangrene set in his intestines and he died seven days later. His assassin got to experience the full force of the new power displayed a few years earlier at the Columbian Exposition: electricity. Electrocution had recently been instituted as the preferred method of execution. Item 214 is A souvenir of Buffalo, N.Y., Niagara Falls and the Pan-American Exposition. $100. Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers may be found online at www.cbwoodbooks.com or reached by phone at 617-868-1711.

Fairs and Expositions from Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers

Fairs and Expositions from Charles Wood.

By Michael Stillman

Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers has issued a catalogue of Fairs and Expositions. Wood catalogues generally focus on a particular subject, often a very targeted niche, but then provide an amazing collection of items within the area. This well describes Catalogue 123. It is a collection of publications from various national and world fairs, from the 1798 Paris Industrial Exposition to the 1933 Chicago Century of Progress Exposition.

The first serious French industrial exhibition took place in 1798. The exhibition was located in a Paris hotel, and displays included furniture, tapestry, bookbinding, clocks, art, carpets, silk, porcelain and more. Altogether there were 110 exhibitors, and this became the first of a series of exhibitions that would continue for half a century. Item 1 is a catalogue from it, Exposition Publique Des Products de L'Industrie, and participants soon learned that it could be an effective advertising vehicle. One quaint oddity is that the cover dates it from the year 6. It isn't really that old. It was from the sixth year after the French Revolution, also known as 1798. Priced at $4,500.

In 1825, the Franklin Institute of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of Mechanic Arts published its First annual report... This report included a catalogue of the exhibition they held in 1824. Among the categories displayed were iron and copper works, chemicals, machines, glass, cotton and woolen goods, paints, musical instruments, and straw bonnets. Names of manufacturers and prices are provided. Item 16. $350.

In 1851, the British held a major international exhibition to celebrate the technological advances of the era. A behemoth structure of iron and glass, known as the Crystal Palace, was built to house the exposition. It was a huge success, with over 6 million people viewing over 13,000 exhibits. When the exposition was over, the Crystal Palace was taken down and then reassembled on new grounds, where it stood until destroyed by fire in 1936. One of the most important fair books is the official report on the competitions which took place at the fair: Exhibitions of the Works of Industry of All Nations. Item 35. $750.

Item 36 is a Washington printing pertaining to the London fair. It is the Proceedings of the Central Committee of the United States in the Industrial Exhibition of 1851. This is a rare 1850 pamphlet encouraging U.S. participation in the event and offers useful guidance. $200.

Fairs and Expositions from Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers

A rare souvenir from the 1887 St. Louis Exposition.

Item 37 is a strange, evidently humorous book about the London fair. It is written in a Lancashire dialect, and the title goes like this: O ful, tru, un pertikler okeawnt...we gooin too th' Greyt Eggshibishun, e Lundun... If you look carefully, you will notice this isn't some strange language, but an exaggerated English dialect, obviously meant to poke fun at the country folk. If you're having trouble understanding the lingo, it offers a "Dikshunayre fur thoose us ur noane so fur larn't." This 1851 farce must have been popular, as it is described as the "thurd edishun." The author was "O Felly from Rachde." $150.

The first American exposition patterned upon the London international exhibition was held in New York in 1853. The book, edited by D Silliman and C.R. Goodrich, is The world of science, art and industry illustrated from examples in the New-York Exhibition of 1853-54. A domed iron structure was built for the fair, and its plan, as well as those for other structures which were not selected, are provided. This report includes 500 wood engravings. Item 59. $450.

America's centennial was a year of great celebration. The official fair was held in Philadelphia in 1876. Between 1880 and 1884, the federal government printed the official report of this exposition, eleven volumes in all. Without having actually read them myself, I'm going to guess that this must be a very complete report. The Reports of the United States Centennial Commission are available as item 115. $1,500.

Here is an exhibition that was not so well known. In fact, Wood says he cannot find any other records pertaining to it. It was held in St. Louis in 1887, at the "St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall." As best I can tell, there was an association that ran this hall and held exhibitions there during the latter part of the 19th century. The hall was torn down to make way for the Central Library, which was completed in 1912. This obscure publication is called St. Louis Exposition souvenir, 1887 and historical review of the great expositions of the world. Along with describing the St. Louis expo, it covers many others, from the French industrial exhibition of 1798 to the New Orleans Cotton and Industrial Exhibition of 1884. Evidently, the promoters were trying to associate their exposition with the great ones, although it appears to have been much more of a local show with a focus on musical events. Item 157. $200.

The next major exposition came in Paris in 1889. This is the one for which the Eiffel Tower was built. Wood offers L'Exposition de Paris (1889) publice avec la collaboration d'ecrivan speciaux. This book contains many illustrations of the technology of constructing the fair buildings, the Eiffel Tower in particular. Originally published as 80 weekly parts, it is here printed in two volumes. Item 166. $1,150.

Fairs and Expositions from Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers

none

Perhaps the most important of all American fairs was the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It was held to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. Over 25 million visitors attended this fair, which featured electrical lighting, a new invention many had never seen. This fair also featured the first midway, where the Ferris Wheel was introduced. Item 177 is Official Views of the World's Columbian Exposition issued by the Department of Photography. It includes 115 plates and is likely the best collection of photographs of the fair. $225.

Not all fairs are remembered so fondly. The 1901 Buffalo exposition may well be the worst. It was a financial disaster, losing over $3 million. This was not the worst of it. It is best remembered as the place where President William McKinley was assassinated on September 6, 1901. The President was shot twice by an anarchist while visiting the Temple of Music. Modern medicine would have undoubtedly saved McKinley, who at first appeared to be recovering, but gangrene set in his intestines and he died seven days later. His assassin got to experience the full force of the new power displayed a few years earlier at the Columbian Exposition: electricity. Electrocution had recently been instituted as the preferred method of execution. Item 214 is A souvenir of Buffalo, N.Y., Niagara Falls and the Pan-American Exposition. $100.

Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers may be found online at www.cbwoodbooks.com or reached by phone at 617-868-1711.