1893 COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION SOUVENIR PHOTO ALBUM - COLUMBUS IN THE NEW WORLD MOTIF

Description

We are offering a
RARE
1893 Columbian Exposition Souvenir Photograph Album, with 9 beautiful illustrations on the album's pages.  8 1/2" x 10 1/2".  There are
NO
PHOTOGRAPHS in the album.  The album is equipped to hold 32 cabinet card photographs.
We have seen a few Columbian souvenir albums, but their covers simply say "Columbian Souvenir" with two pictures of Exposition buildings.
We have NOT SEEN a souvenir album with the beautifully detailed motif of Columbus' arrival in the New World, like this one has.
The Columbian Exposition was a world's fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World in 1492.
The album has a great front cover made of metal (possibly pewter or some other metal alloy).  In the center is a cream colored (celluloid, we believe) motif, in very high relief.  From what we gather, plastics manufactured in the early 1890's were either celluloid or casein.  This motif is thick and sturdy, with no cracking.  The motif depicts Columbus and his men having just landed on the shore.
Columbus holds his sword in one hand; and with his other hand plants the flag of Spain in the New World.  He is surrounded by Spanish noblemen and a Catholic priest.  One ship can be seen anchored off the shore, probably Columbus' ship, the Santa Maria.  A female Indian, naked from the waist up, kneels at the feet of the priest, her arms around his legs and her head buried in his robe in a show of reverence (and probably fear), as native Americans had never seen men like these or a large sailing ship.  A pile of offerings, apparently from the Indian, is on the ground: pumpkins, squash, corn and grapes.
The frontispiece illustration shows
Columbus standing high up on top of two globes, with one foot in the Old World of 1492 and one foot in the New World of 1892.
Way below him are the buildings and exhibits of the Exposition.
There are
8 more illustrations
on the actual album pages.
At the top of the pages is an illustrated scene from the Exposition, and at the bottom of the pages there is a scene from Columbus' expedition to the New World.
Illustrations are as follows:
1.)
Horticulture Hall
(at the top of the page);
Columbus before Queen Isabella
(at the bottom of the page)
2.)
Naval Display
(at the top);
Columbus' Departure from Palos
(at the bottom)
3.)
Gallery of Fine Arts
(at the top);
The Caravels at Sea
(at the bottom)
4.)
Administration Building
(at the top);
The Mutiny
(at the bottom)
5.)
U. S. Gov't. Building
(at the top);
Te Deum - Land Sighted
(at the bottom)
6.)
Machinery Hall
(at the top);
Columbus Taking Possession
(at the bottom)
7.)
Electrical Building
(at the top);
Return and Reception at Court
(at the bottom)
8.)
Agricultural Building
(at the top);
Triumph of Columbus
(at the bottom)
CONDITION: The front cover and inside of the album is in Excellent + Condition.  The piece of the clasp with the hook is missing, but the other piece of the clasp is there - the part that has the ball that fits into the hook to close the album.  Clasps can be easily replaced.  The back of the album is covered in fabric which is worn.