1876 Boxed Set Of Centennial Exposition Stereoview Photos Great Trade Card Label For Sale

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While we have handled scores of the oversized stereoviews of the 1876 Centennial Exposition, published by the Centennial Photographic Company, we have never come across a Boxed Set such as this one and the engraved Trade Card mounted as a label on the Box lid is, in itself, a wonderful piece of American Ephemera. The Box measures approx. 7 1/4" by 4 1/2" by 3/4" and is covered in an orange colored, coated stock paper. The affixed Trade Card / Label measures approx. 5 1/4" by 3" and features 6, vignette views of the major buildings of the Exposition in a style seen on printed textile bandanna souvenirs sold at the Fair. The Label also features advertising text for the Centennial Photographic Company as well as the proposed opening and closing dates of the Exposition.

The 15 Stereoviews contained in the Set include many images we have never encountered before. We have included scans of all 15 Cards but we find of special interest are two wonderful views of the "people mover" Railroad - one showing the train on the south east side of Agricultural Hall and the other showing the View with the Train in the foreground of a Photograph of Machinery Hall. In one of the images lettering on the open air Passenger Cars / Tramway Cars of the Train can be seen and the lettering reads "West End Passenger Railway Company" (we have never seen a photograph of this railroad before). Also of special interest (and worthy of further research) is an untitled View that appears to show a number of power plants for the Fair on the banks of a body of water.

This very rare and fascinating, Boxed Set of 1876 Centennial Exposition Stereoviews is in very good condition overall. The original, paperboard Box is complete and intact with all end flaps present but with some of the corners split (three on the base and one on the lid). The mounted Advertising Card / Label is very well preserved - generally clean and crisp but with some small, scattered spots of soiling (see the scans below). 14 of the 15 Stereoviews are in excellent condition. These 14 Stereoviews are clean and crisp - generally exhibiting sharp focus, strong contrast and rich tonality with 2 of these 14 Views being a bit faded. The 15th Stereoview in the Set has some soiling and water staining to the card mount, an old, tape repair at the upper left hand corner of the mount and uniform darkening to the images (again see the scans below).

A very rare and fascinating, 1876 Centennial Exhibition / Philadelphia World's Fair Boxed Set of Albumen Stereoviews featuring a fantastic, engraved, coated stock card type label on the lid of the Box and a fantastic addition to any Collection!!!

Overseasshippping is extra and cost will be quoted at buyers request. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax.

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Important Notes about Shipping Charges:

The amount quoted for Shipping & Handling is calculated by and is equal to the EXACT amount charged by the Post Office plus a $1.00 "packing fee" - the $1.00 fee is our only compensation for the virgin packing materials we use on all of our professionally packaged boxes as well as our cost for the salaried help that does most of our packing - as I am sure you can see, we make NO profit on the Shipping charges and, in fact, our costs are usually greater than the $1.00 fee. Please contact us if there are any issues regarding the cost of shipping.

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This item has been shown 413 times. 1876 Boxed Set Of Centennial Exposition Stereoview Photos Great Trade Card Label: $768