Very Rare Poster 1893 World's Columbian Exposition

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Very Rare Poster 1893 World's Columbian Exposition

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Sold Date: 12/31/2006
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Advertising

We have been studying and writing about the World's Columbian Exposition for 27 years; this poster is the first ORIGINAL poster we have had the opportunity to acquire in that time. It's a bit ragged, but more than displayable and also remarkably about 99+% intact if you would like to have it restored.

It is on a heavy canvas backing wich the previous owner obviously did to preserve and display it after it was found in well-worn condition. The scans are very accurate regarding condition.

We have heard of two such posters in outstanding condition having been found and sold -- for $2,500-$3,500 each. Consequently, we're pricing it very inexpensively and assume a private party could restore it to immaculate condition for about $1,000 or a net expense of less than $2,000 assuming this one sells for less than $1,000.. Naturally, a museum could do this in staff labor.

We have to be careful of using the term W-E-B-?-S-I-T-E within a listing as ebay does not allow sellers to cross-romote. Still, this is an EDITORIAL statement not a sales attempt. With our new location/entertainment/education location the first of the year we will discuss and offer this poster for study if it doesn't sell this month on ebay. We will feature our newsletter, inventory discussions, editorial and research material on all world's fairs as well as other artifacts. The History Bank has worked with both major and small museums since 1979 and this piece certainly belongs in a major institution featuring the World's Columbian Expo if not a private collection. The only major institution with a significant collection of original posters is the Chicago Historical Society to the best of our knowledge.

We are just completing work on our second history of the fair for the University of Illinois Press, this a history of the Midway Plaisance; our earlier book was on the fair itself and we are currently working on a 3rd book on the concessions and tickets of the Midway which will be published by our companion company, Laing Research Services.

This poster comes with only one caveat: While we will transfer all ownership to this actual piece with a sale, we reserve the right to publish it in our forthcoming books and will credit the new owner in any such use.

Please let us know if you have questions. Postage and insurance on the poster will be a flat $25 (we will send at the buyer's discretion, USPS or UPS, rolled and packaged securely. We accept checks and money orders only, no PayPal. Thanks very much for time evaluating this wonderful bit of Columbian history.

NOTE: We had inquiries after this listing closed last week when it was first listed, but since the item had closed ebay would not let us respond to the questions. Please try again with any questions and we'll respond promptly! Merry Christmas!