Bird's-Eye View, Main Building. 8 1/8 x 10 in. albumen photograph on 10 3/8 x 11 3/4 in. mount. -- Main Building from East End. 8 1/8 x 10 1/8 in. albumen photograph on 10 5/8 x 11 3/4 in. mount. Each titled in the negative, with applied paper label on lower margin of mount with imprint, "Centennial Photographic Co., International Exhibition, Philadelphia," dated 1876, William Notman identified as president.

Notman (1826-1891) was born in Scotland, but emigrated to Canada in 1856. He established a photography studio in Montreal, but then began training young artists and opening other studios, including seasonal operations in the US at Yale and Harvard to capture the students for posterity. He also regularly contributed to the Philadelphia Photographer, and with the journal's editor, Edward Wilson, formed the Centennial Photographic Company to document the American centennial exhibition in 1876.

A fine pair of photographs capturing the Main Building and surrounding buildings and exhibits erected for the first official World Fair held in the United States.