SUPPLEMENT TO HARPER'S WEEKLY, Sept. 30, 1876  

* Centennial Exposition
* Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Hard to find in undamaged condition

This is a huge foldout print captioned: "The Centennial---Balloon View Of The Grounds" which gives a terrific overview of it and showing Philadelphia in the background.  Rarely do such large, foldout prints from Harper's Weekly survive intact, as they were typically removed for their displayability or damaged after many years of folding and unfolding when found in the volumes. This print is a terrific & very detailed overview of the grounds of the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, held in this city to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Not only does this print show in great detail each of the many buildings, but each is labeled, as all are the streets and avenues. In the distance is the skyline of the city of Philadelphia. Today this park is the site of the Philadelphia Zoo. So popular was this Exposition that over 10 million visitors attended, equal to 20% of the population of the entire country. The entire print measures about 22 1/2 by 30 1/2 inches, and while it does have a few flaws, it is in overall good condition as compared to most we've seen (see images).  We recommend folding the issue in half (along a fold line which is already present) and placing it within a 24 x 18 folder.

Background: The 1876 Centennial Exposition, held in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, served as a monumental turning point in American history, transitioning the nation from a post-Civil War era of reconstruction into a global industrial powerhouse. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the event attracted over 10 million visitors—a staggering 20% of the U.S. population at the time—who gathered to witness the dawn of the "Gilded Age." The Exposition was the stage for the world debut of life-altering inventions, including Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone, the Remington typewriter, and Thomas Edison’s automatic telegraph, while the massive Corliss Steam Engine in Machinery Hall came to symbolize the sheer scale of American manufacturing might. Beyond technology, the fair introduced cultural staples like bananas and popcorn to the masses and featured the torch of the under-construction Statue of Liberty as a centerpiece for fundraising. Ultimately, the Exposition successfully rebranded the United States as an innovative, unified, and culturally sophisticated leader on the international stage, forever altering the American consumer landscape and architectural identity.