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1896 Liberal Arts Electricity Bldg. Chicago Worlds Fair - ORIGINAL FAI5

1896 Liberal Arts Electricity Bldg. Chicago Worlds Fair - ORIGINAL FAI5

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"View from the Southeast Corner of the Court of Honor." This is an original 1896 first impression photogravure, by Goupil, of a view of the southern ends of the Liberal Arts, Electricity, and the Mines and Mining Buildings at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. The actual image measures 8.5 x 13 inches.

Period Paper has obtained arguably the finest collection of original, hand-pulled, museum-quality photogravures of the art of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair (The World's Columbian Exposition). Over the last several years we have obtained and sold thousands of items from this Exposition, and we continue to offer other lithographs, prints, and photogravures. However, this group of original museum-quality photogravures are the finest available in the world. Their condition is unsurpassed. The artistry in the creation of these photogravures has produced the most clear, detailed, and broad tonal ranges that we have ever seen. The Intaglio process used for this collection is far superior to the more mechanical photogravures and rotogravures that we often see. We have inspected these under 10x magnification --the detail is exceptional and the stock, flawless. The plate impressions are deep and very visible to the naked eye but do not show up well on the digital image. This collection took three years to create from the original works of art at the Exposition. The project was overseen or contributed to by the Commissioner of Fine Arts for France, the Royal Special Commissioner of Fine Arts for Italy, the Vice-President of the International Jury for the Fine Arts, the Assistant Commissioner of Fine Arts for Holland, and the lithographers of Goupil.

Currently, original photogravures like these from the late nineteenth century have been solid performers at Christie's and Sotheby's with ten unsigned photogravures selling for $5,000-$49,000 and one signed photogravure selling for $91,000.

The World's Columbian Exposition was held from May to October 1893 in Chicago in honor of the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of the new world. In competition with many other cities, Chicago was finally designated the official site and the Exposition was built on 630 acres in and around Jackson Park. It was a spectacular display of progress and prosperity, and included among its many wonders electrical exhibits, exhibits from other countries, and a popular amusement area on the Midway Plaisance with carnival rides, among them the first Ferris Wheel. Most of the fair's architecture was based on classical design which gave the area around the Court of Honor the name "The White City."

CONDITION

This 115+ year old Item is rated Mint / Near Mint. No aging. No creases. No natural defects. No surface rub. No tears. No water damage.

  • Product Type: Original Photogravure; Other
  • Grade: Mint / Near Mint
  • Dimensions: Approximately 11.5 x 16 inches; 29 x 41 cm
  • Authentication: Serial-Numbered Certificate of Authenticity w/ Full Provenance
  • Protection: Packaged in a custom archival sleeve with an acid-free black board (great for display, gift-giving, and preservation)

FAI5C96