Unattributed. "Plan of the Grounds and Buildings of the Centennial Exhibition, at Philadelphia, 1876"

Unattributed. "Plan of the Grounds and Buildings of the Centennial Exhibition, at Philadelphia, 1876."  

From Visitors’ Guide to the Centennial Exhibition and Philadelphia.  Washington: Centennial Book Company, 1876. 17 x 23 3/4 (image).  Chromolithograph.  With folds as issued.  A few separations along folds skillfully repaired with archival tape and a few pin holes where folds meet filled and in-painted.  Minor browning along some folds.  Else, very good condition. 

A graphic and colorful folding map of the Centennial Grounds issued in one of the popular of the guide books sold at the Exhibition and in Philadelphia during the Centennial. This map, intended for practical use by fair goers, is a mine of information. Each building and path in the Centennial is clearly depicted and numbers with reference to a key in the upper right. Interestingly, the numbers of this key were based on a numbering system used by the Centennial Board of Finance so that they correspond to numbers displayed on the buildings themselves. Also noted are the locations of displays by the difference countries represented at the Exhibition, this information given in a lettered key in the lower right. One of the most informative and visually striking documents from the great Centennial Exhibition.