Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - May - 2012 Issue

World's Fairs from Mark Selvaggio Books & Ephemera

World's Fairs & Expositions.

World's Fairs & Expositions.

Mark Selvaggio, Books & Ephemera, is offering a catalogue of shorter form material relating to a very specific type of event – World's Fairs & Expositions. These are mainly printed pieces you would have picked up at one of these exhibitions, some free, others for a price, though some are related material, like planning for an upcoming fair. Many of these fairs were in America, but many were in Europe too. They start from one that really predates the “World's Fair” era, the 1806 Paris Exhibition, and conclude with the 1964 New York World's Fair. Some occurred during good times, but others brought respite from a stressful world, notably those of the 1930s, where first depression, and then war, made for tense and difficult times. These are a few of these mementos from the exciting events of yesteryear.

Item 25 is Centennial Portfolio: A Souvenir of the International Exposition at Philadelphia. This piece contain 52 plates depicting the various buildings at the Philadelphia Exposition of 1876. This fair was a milestone for America. It celebrated the 100th anniversary of the nation's Declaration of Independence, and was the first major fair to take place in America. Priced at $175.

Chicago's Columbian Exposition would be America's next major world's fair. The 1893 fair was meant to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. It was noted for introducing the electric light to the country. Item 53 is a post-fair report by the California World's Fair Commission. It recounts the various exhibits from California, both state and county. Included is a plate of the Orange Tower. Built to promote California oranges, it stood 35 feet tall and contained 14,000 oranges. The oranges had to be replaced every 3 to 4 weeks to stay fresh. $85.

Item 56 is a 1994 search for a lady who made her debut at the 1893 Chicago fair: Looking for Little Egypt. The “Egypt” name has been used by countless belly dancers since, but first was the nickname of a performer supposedly from Egypt on the fair's Midway. She performed the “danse du ventre” (dance of the belly), better known at the time as the “Hoochie-Coochie.” This book by Donna Carlton undertook the surprisingly difficult task of tracking down just who this original Little Egypt was. $30.

This was not as important an exhibition, but a historic one nonetheless: Free Guide to the Exposition, Buffalo and Vicinity 1901. It was printed by a Dr. R.V. Pierce for the Pan American Exposition 1901. Pierce was evidently a Buffalo physician who was promoting his medical wonders. The brochure included space for one to write their “Pan-American Notes,” and the owner of this copy wrote in, “saw spot where McKinley killed.” President McKinley attended this fair and it was the biggest mistake he ever made. An anarchist, with obviously differing political views, shot the President after he gave a speech to a large crowd. Item 111. $125.

From the 1931 Paris International Colonial Exposition comes item 291: Societe des Etudes Indochinoises. Indochine Francaise. La Cochinchine. In 1931, Vietnam was part of the French colonial empire. This piece deals with the region known as Cochinchina, what would later be known as South Vietnam. At the time, no one could have imagined what a burden this land would become for France in the 1950s, and much more so for America in the 1960s and 1970s. This book provides all sorts of details about the country, its history, culture, people, etc., and comes with a map of all of its automobile and rail roads. $300.

Item 326 answers the question, How does the World's Largest Thermometer Work? The Indian Refining Company erected an enormous thermometer at Chicago's A Century of Progress Fair in 1933, celebrating the city's 100th anniversary. Indian Refining erected its enormous thermometer to remind fair goers that its Havoline motor oil “is the best motor oil AT ALL TEMPERATURES.” This was an appropriate product for the Chicago fair, which was filled with exhibits by automobile manufacturers (and for a new item – air conditioning). Havoline is still available today, though the brand became associated with Texaco after they bought out Indian in the 1930s, and currently Chevron, which took over Texaco a decade ago. Incidentally, an internet search reveals that today the world's tallest thermometer is located in Baker, California, and stands 134 feet tall. The Indian/Havoline thermometer was 218 feet tall. $15.

Here is an exhibit from Chicago that must have been of limited popularity: Diet, Dentistry, Dentifrice. Souvenir of the ThreeDOral Education. Getting people there must have been like pulling teeth. It was produced by Iodent Chemical Co., a manufacturer of products such as toothpaste and toothbrushes. It delivers its message with talking ingredients who say such things as “I am Mr. Petroleum Jelly.” Item 329. $35.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Peter Max, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore (Versions 1,2, 5, 6), 2001. Estimate $10,000-15,000
    DOYLE: The iconic screen-used wall-mounted "M" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Estimate $5,000-8,000
    DOYLE: The Mary Tyler Moore Show by Al Hirschfeld. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Annie Leibovitz presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke for Vanity Fair. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    DOYLE: Al Hirschfeld presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke in the CBS Wednesday Night Lineup. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    DOYLE: Richard McKenzie, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore. Estimate $1,000-2,000
    Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Three Original Bill Hargate Costume Designs for The Mary Tyler Moore Hour. Estimate $600-800
    DOYLE: The famous Bonnie and Clyde "Wanted" broadside. Estimate $500-800
    DOYLE: Ticket to the Final Episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show Estimate $400-600
  • Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: William Blake | Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Sold: 4,320,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD
    Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sold: 1,920,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Machiavelli | Il Principe, a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura, ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Henri Matisse | Jazz, Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR
  • One of a Kind Auctions
    Rare Autograph and Documents
    Ending May 29th, 2025
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: George Washington Three Language Ship's Paper West Indies Trade Voyage.
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: An Extraordinary Archive of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry: Over 60 Historic Documents, Naval Commissions, Family Papers, and Photographic Material Spanning the 19th Century.
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Abraham Lincoln Appointment for Vice-Consul of Russia.
    One of a Kind Auctions
    Rare Autograph and Documents
    Ending May 29th, 2025
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: John Adams Signed Mediterranean Scalloped Top ship's passport.
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Thomas Jefferson and James Madison Signed Ships Paper.
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Herman Melville RARE -ALS (Moby Dick Author).
    One of a Kind Auctions
    Rare Autograph and Documents
    Ending May 29th, 2025
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Apollo 10: Flown Flag and Patch Display with Crew-Signed Covers from the Collection of NASA Engineer Clark C. McClelland.
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: James Garfield Rare Signature as President - Possibly the largest Autograph as President almost 6 inches long!
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Walt Disney Autograph over 7 inches in Length.
  • Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    29th May 2025
    Forum, May 29: Darwin (Charles). On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, first edition, John Murray, 1859. £50,000 to £70,000.
    Forum, May 29: Astronomy.- Apianus (Petrus). Cosmographicus Liber a Petro Apiano Mathematico Studiose Collectus., first edition, Landshut, 1524. £40,000 to £60,000.
    Forum, May 29: Bound for Jean Grolier.- Negri Stefano. Stephani Nigri Elegantissime è Graeco authorum subditorum translationes, uidelicet., first edition, first issue, Milan, 1521. £15,000 to £20,000.
    Forum, May 29: Gill (Eric). Eve, number 1 of 50, hand-coloured wood-engraving, signed at foot in pencil, [1926]. £6,000 to £8,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    29th May 2025
    Forum, May 29: America.- Warre (Capt. Henry James). Sketches in North America and the Oregon Territory, first edition, Dickinson & Co., 1848. £25,000 to £35,000.
    Forum, May 29: Wodehouse (P.G.) Psmith USA, autograph manuscript of his novel "Psmith Journalist", signed and dated at end and dated "11 November 1909, Hotel Earle, 103 Waverley Place". £15,000 to £20,000.
    Forum, May 29: Women.- Wollstonecraft (Mary). A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects, first edition, uncut in original boards, 1792. £6,000 to £8,000.
    Forum, May 29: Mathematics.- Whitehead (Alfred North) and Bertrand Russell. Principia Mathematica, 3 vol., first editions, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1910-13. £20,000 to £30,000.
  • Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction May 26th
    Ketterer, May 26: Th. McKenney & J. Hall, History of the Indian tribes of North America, 1836-1844. Est: €50,000
    Ketterer, May 26: Biblia latina vulgata, manuscript on thin parchment, around 1250. Est: €70,000
    Ketterer, May 26: M. Beckmann, Fanferlieschen Schönefüßchen, 1924. Est: €10,000
    Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction May 26th
    Ketterer, May 26: A. Ortelius, Theatrum orbis terrarum, 1574. Est: €50,000
    Ketterer, May 26: M. S. Merian, Eurcarum ortus, alimentum et paradoxa metamorphosis, 1717-18. Est: €6,000
    Ketterer, May 26: PAN, 9 volumes, 1895-1900. Est: €12,000
    Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction May 26th
    Ketterer, May 26: Breviarium Romanum, Latin manuscript, 1474. Est: €15,000
    Ketterer, May 26: Quran manuscript from the Saadian period, Maghreb, 16th century. Est: €10,000
    Ketterer, May 26: E. Hemingway, The old man and the sea, 1952. First edition in first issue jacket. Presentation copy. Est: €3,000
    Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction May 26th
    Ketterer, May 26: Flavius Vegetius Renatus, De re militari libri quatuor, 1553. Est: €3,000
    Ketterer, May 26: K. Marx, Das Kapital, 1867. Est: €30,000
    Ketterer, May 26: Brassaï, Transmutations, 1967. Est: €6,000

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