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American Superiority at the World's Great Fair
American Superiority at the World's Great Fair
American Superiority at the World's Great Fair

History, Art, Worlds Fair, American Superiority, Antique Print, Philadelphia,1852 (Sold)

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Charles T. Rodgers (editor)
Thurwanger Brothers (artists and lithographers)
American Superiority at the World’s Great Fair
A. Brett & Co., Philadelphia: 1852
Chromolithograph
24 x 17.5 inches, image
26.5 x 21 inches, overall

This colorful large print celebrates the triumph of American industry, technology, and culture on the occasion of the 1851 Great Exhibition in London, the first modern “world’s fair,” though it was published in Philadelphia. Beneath a scrolling banner bearing the print’s title, the products of American ingenuity are displayed as if in a Baroque cabinet, surmounted by a globe and a bald eagle holding American flags in its talons. The Crystal Palace, where the exhibition took place, is depicted in a vignette at the bottom center, overlapped by the British royal coat of arms. The central image shows the yacht America, which had bested its British competitors in a race held in conjunction with the Great Exhibition — the very race that began the tradition of the America’s Cup competition. Flanking the schooner are U.S. products that attracted notice at the fair, at least some of which won prizes. For example, the Colt pistol with its innovative revolving cylinder holding six bullets is shown as is Prouty and Mears’ Plow, which took a first prize. To the right of the yacht is Palmer’s Artificial Leg, a prosthesis for amputees, and below, in a vignette draped with corn, two men operate the McCormick Reaper, which also won a prize. An assortment of other items are also shown: farm and industrial machinery, a safe, a piano, a barometer, gilt coffee and tea urns, a set of scales, instruments, a carriage and more.

Product description continues below.

Description

The enthusiastic reception U.S. products received at this international fair, in the capital of the powerful British Empire, was by no means anticipated by the American public, and therefore became a major source of national pride. Indeed, Americans who visited the fair generally acknowledged that the European and Asian nations excelled in the decorative arts. However, as one American commentator put it at the time, in the realm of “utility” U.S. manufacturers stood out for a variety of clever solutions to practical problems. In a historical sense, this print announces the arrival of American manufacturing on the international scene.

This lithograph bears the caption, “To the people of the United States this print is respectfully dedicated by Charles T. Rodgers.” The year this print was issued, Rodgers also compiled a book about the 1851 Great Exhibition with the same title: American Superiority at the World’s Fair (Philadelphia, J. J. Hawkins, 1852). The book contained reprints of newspaper articles from the British and U.S. press about the American exhibits and the yacht race, along with the texts of speeches delivered at dinners and awards ceremonies related to these events. Perhaps Rodgers intended this lithograph as another means of promoting and commemorating the event. It is also possible that this print served as a broadside advertisement for Rodgers’ book. This was not the only large print of this subject matter — the Smithsonian National Museum of American History has a print in its collection with the title American Superiority at the World’s Great Fair published in 1851 by Perkin’s Sun Lithographic Establishment, New York. The Perkin’s print is similarly constructed with related imagery, though Rodgers’ print is in color and more comprehensive (see References below).

The “Thurwanger Brothers” credited as having designed and drawn the lithograph on the stone were probably John, Charles and Joseph Thurwanger, lithographers based in Philadelphia, and recorded in the Philadelphia census of 1860.

Alphonse Brett was a lithographer based in Philadelphia from 1853 to 1856, and thereafter in New York. His work was exhibited at the Franklin Institute in 1847. His firm continued in the 20th century as Brett Lithographing Company in Queens, New York.

Full publication information: A. Brett & Co., Goldsmiths’ Hall, Library St., Philadelphia

References:

“American Superiority at the World’s Fair.” Library of Congress Online Catalog. http://catalog.loc.gov/ (22 February 2006).

“American Superiority at the World’s Great Fair / 1851.” 19th Century American Lithographs: America on Stone, the Harry T. Peters Collection. SmithsonianNationalMuseum of American History. http://americanhistory.si.edu/ (22 February 2006).

Groce, George C. and Wallace, David H. The New-York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artists in America 1564-1860. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1969. pp. 629-630.

Knoles, Lucia. “Excerpts from American Superiority at the World’s Fair.” E Pluribus Unum Project, Assumption College. http://www.assumption.edu/ahc/americansuperiority.html (22 February 2006).

Peters, Harry T. America on Stone. U.S.: Doubleday, Doran, 1931. pp. 108.

Additional information

Century

19th Century