CENTENNIAL INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION STOCK CERTIFICATE. Lithographic stock certificate granting t...

CENTENNIAL INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION STOCK CERTIFICATE. Lithographic stock certificate granting to Cornelius C. Felton one share of stock in the Centennial Board Finance, 1 p, elephant folio (420 x 540 mm), Philadelphia, April 24, 1877, with engraved vignettes of the signing of the Declaration and a native American mourning the progress of industrialization, matted and framed to 685 x 795 mm. Provenance: Private Collection, Beverly Hills, California. The Centennial International Exposition was the first World's Fair to be held in America and timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The city of Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania took measures to establish a commission in 1872, and that entity was authorized to issue up to $10 million in stock to finance the endeavor. The date of this certificate is 1877, after the conclusion of the exhibition (which ran from May-November of the previous year). Though well attended and credited with raising America's industrial profile globally, the Exposition did not turn a profit and this stock was likely sold after the fact to help raise funds to pay outstanding loans. This certificate is issued to a Cornelius Conway Felton, likely the nephew of Cornelius C. Felton, one-time regent of the Smithsonian Institution and President of Harvard University. Lot to be sold without reserve. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing