After Frederick Bourquin (1808-97). “Birds Eye View of the Centennial Buildings and Grounds.”
Philadelphia: National Publishing Co., 1876. Second or third state? 15 1/2 x 23. Litho-tint. One horizontal and two vertical creases in image. Repaired tears in sky. Two repaired tears into image right hand side. One repaired tear in left hand margin. Numerous small horizontal crinkly lines in print. Else, fair condition.
In 1876, the National Publishing Company issued The Illustrated History of the Centennial Exhibition. This work was written by James D. McCabe, and it included a history of the Exhibition and descriptions of all the buildings and exhibits. As a promotion for the volume, the National Publishing Company issued this bird’s eye view of the Centennial grounds, with the grounds and buildings drawn from architectural plans. The print shows most of the major structures along with a number of the smaller state pavilions. These latter images did not appear in an earlier version of this print. The scene is drawn from a perspective on Belmont plateau and it provides an interesting image of the Exhibition. The differences between this print and the previous state are the trees in foreground have been redrawn.