American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Seventy approx. 6 1/4 x 3 7/8 in. albumen stereoviews on  7 x 4 1/4 in. cardstock mounts (condition generally good, minor toning, occasional fading). Publisher imprint and Series title "1884 New Orleans 1885" printed to mount rectos. Photographer and publisher imprint to mount versos. Wilson's blind stamp to all but 3 views. Some duplicate views, see complete list of titles for details.

The World Cotton Centennial was a World's Fair organized to commemorate the earliest-surviving record of cotton export from the United States to England in 1784. Held in New Orleans which was home to the Cotton Exchange where one-third of all US cotton was handled. The US Congress helped to fund the large US Government & State Exhibits Hall - several views of which are included here. Of particular note are several outdoor views from the Exposition grounds and around New Orleans including scenes at the docks on the Mississippi River, street scenes, the French Quarter, and alleys of live oaks. "Levee Loungers" shows African American praline vendors in the French Quarter.

[With:] Portrait of a young woman wearing a fancy velvet jacket, beaded hat, lace collar, and fine leather gloves. N.p.: Davis, ca 1885. Photographer's imprint to verso which notes the photographer received the "Highest award at World's Cotton Exposition." -- Two studio portraits of children. Philadelphia: Schreiber & Son, [1884-1885]. Backmark notes that each image is "A Competing Picture for a Fifty Dollar Prize." One negative is by Lindorf and the other by Bushby & Hurt. -- Together, 3 cabinet cards, some fading.

[Also with:] the World's Industrial & Cotton Centennial Exposition. New Orleans, LA. New Orleans: M.F. Dunn & Bro., [1884]. 6 1/8 x 3 1/4 in. printed handbill advertising the Exposition.  

Complete list of stereoviews (please note that some views are untitled or the title was not fully legible): 

3. Main Building, Grand Entrance, S. -- 11. A Peep Through the Live Oaks. -- 25. The Lake, Horticultural Grounds. -- 27. Minnesota "Cartoon" Cars. -- 32. Horticultural Hall, East Front. -- 36. Horticultural Hall [illeg.] Fountain. -- 62. Exposition Boiler House. (x2) -- 69.  A Load of Cotton - Levee. -- 76. Sugar Cane and Orange Trees. -- 79. The French Market. -- 80. The French Market. (x2) -- 81. The French Market. -- 82. A Street Cobbler. -- 106. Levee Loungers. -- 240. A Louisiana "Swamp Angel" G. & S. Building. -- 260. Main Building, N.E. (x2) -- 261. Main Building, S.E. (x2) -- 287. Mexican Section, Main Building. -- 331. "Cotton is King" G. & S. Building. -- 336. A Quiet Reflection. Main Building. (x3) -- 352. Live Oak Avenue from Art Hall. -- 383. Live Oak Avenue, Levee Side. -- 387. All Three Puzzled. (x2) -- 402. An N.O. Milk Cart. -- 432. Main Building from the Electric Light Tower. -- 437. "On Guard," G. & S. Building. -- 439. A Study from the Oyster Levee. -- 499. Main Building [illeg.]. -- 519. The Old Bell "Independence." The car. -- 537. G. & S. Building, West Gallery. -- 549. Horticultural Hall. -- 640. Chicago. [illeg.]. -- 672. The Bristling Mexicanos, Horticultural Hall. -- 675. Parent Cactus and Babies. -- 678. Government & States Building from East Gallery. -- 684. Stonewall Jackson's War Horse. "Little Sorrell." -- 783. Reception of Rex, Feb. 26, '85. (x3) -- 814. Main Building, Avenue T.T. -- 926. Minnesota Section, G. & S. Building. -- 969. Minnesota Section, G. & S. Building. (x2) -- 1093. Exposition Grounds from Hort'l Hall Tower. (x2) -- 1113. Mexican Section, Main Building. -- The Music Hall Main Entrance. (x2) -- Government and State Building. -- [Illeg.] Oak Contemplation. -- The Fruit Market, French Market. -- Ohio Section, G. & S. Building -- View of a botanical sign with the years of the Centennial, 1784 and 1884. -- 400. Outdoor image of a cart laden with lumber with two horses and three figures. (x2) -- Outdoor image of a building labeled "Black Mountain" and a door labeled "Post Office." -- Outdoor image of a large building showing a boat garage with a sign reading "U.S. Life Savings Services." -- Outdoor group portrait 14 men under a tree and behind a knotted rope fence. -- Outdoor image of the Art Hall portico. -- Outdoor image of live oak avenue with figures strolling down the boulevard. -- Vermont Booth with marble and granite archway with two figures. -- [Kansas Section, G. & S. Section.] -- [Two men, one African American, sitting on baled cotton outside.]