St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D
St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D St. Louis Exposition Louisiana Purchase 1904 art nouveau souvenir album 3-D
$ 150.00

(Old Books, Early 20th Century Books, Americana, St. Louis Exposition, Louisiana Purchase Exhibition, Illustrated Books, Souvenir Albums).

Snap Shots of the St. Louis Exposition.
Published 1904, Chicago, by the White City Art Company.
40 pages, plus covers. Text in English. 

Well illustrated throughout w/ bw photographic images, printed in offset using a special border to create a slight optical illusion when viewing the photograph. Many images capture crowds, people, facades, plus numerous very interesting specific ethnicities and activities, including early native Americans, the Kandy King of Ceylon, an Arabian apple peddler and musicians, a merchant woman, etc.

Scarce and appealing expo souvenir, with beautiful art nouveau embossed cover lettering and a unique textured paper used throughout for printing. 

With a unique faux 3-D (stereoscopy) "border process patented by F.C. White". Early tie-in between 3-D and tourism during the early 20th century era explosion of mass American middle class popular tourism, which created a huge demand for endless numbers of these types of event and location souvenirs to bring home.

Publisher's oblong paper wrappers, gilt title lettering, original decorative binding cord.

Oblong booklet is physically old and shows assorted signs of sunlight, time and fairly careful handling. Book is not new or in "new" condition.

Card stock oblong binding gently age worn, joints sun faded into an almost modernist art deco manner, remains overall attractive as an object.

Text block paper is gently toned, internally still well preserved, tight, sound.

Still attractive on the shelf. Book displays a pleasing and unique age patina and is in nice antiquarian condition, any age flaws easy to overlook or forgive. 

Please review photos for more detail and our best attempt to convey how this antique book survives.

Book Measures c. 6 3/4" H x 9" W.

[B2800].

Rear cover embossed stamped in ink from Chicago and Alton Railway (only way) from Chicago and Kansas City to the 1904 Saint Louis World's Fair. This scarce promotional booklet is of current interest for the railroad promotional connection as well as the clear attempt at artistic quality which lies behind its production. It's very nice to look through, a unique production unlike anything else.

Not that it matters, but over the past 35 years of looking I have no recollection of ever seeing this type of faux 3-D border used in any other tourist souvenir photo book of this era, of which there are countless thousands of variants. A little known and early printed 3-D images tie-in, highly likely a "one-off" usage as well within this era.