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Souvenir of the Pan American Exposition Buffalo 1901: Over One Hundred Views Showing the Grandeur of the Pan American Exposition.
Premier, photo-centric commemorative publication printed on-site during the height of the World's Fair. Published and copyrighted in August 1901 by Chas. J. Shults & Co., this landscape-format booklet stands out as a highly visual, authorized record of the fair’s architectural and landscape achievements.
The publication date of August 1901 is incredibly significant. The Pan-American Exposition opened in May, but many buildings, landscape elements, and electrical grids were plagued by construction delays and heavy spring rains. By August, the fairgrounds were in absolute pristine condition, the flowers were in full bloom, and the crowds were at their peak. This booklet captures the "Rainbow City" at its absolute zenith—just a few weeks before President William McKinley’s tragic assassination on September 6, 1901, fundamentally changed the tone of the fair.
The notice stating "All Pan-American Building Designs in this publication are copyrighted by the Pan-American Exposition Co." tells a major legal story. The fair's Board of Directors fiercely protected their intellectual property. Architects like John M. Carrère (who planned the grounds) and the creators of the iconic Electric Tower held strict copyrights over the visual likenesses of their plaster-and-wood masterpieces.
Very good condition. Measures 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches. Purple paper wrap covers with die cut oval window.
