Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - July - 2007 Issue

World's Fairs and Expositions from Marc Selvaggio

A Buffalo head for Buffalo's fair; map of Japanese Expo that never was.

A Buffalo head for Buffalo's fair; map of Japanese Expo that never was.


Here is an even more ironic item. Published in 1937, it touts the planned 1940 International Exposition of Japan. Japanese industrialist and Exposition President Ginjiro Fujihara writes that the fair will promote the "harmonious fusion of Eastern and Western cultures." He goes on to say, "The success of the Exposition will go a long way towards advancing the cause of international peace and goodwill. In all these notable projects Japan is keenly interested." By 1940, it became apparent that Japan was interested in other, not so harmonious projects, and Fujihara's fair never took place. Item 515. $350.

Item 421 is a pamphlet describing the most popular exhibit at the 1939 New York World's Fair, General Motors' Futurama. This exhibit depicted America in the future year of 1960, which included cars speeding along automated highways at 100 miles per hour. They were a bit too ambitious on that prediction. The exhibit could accommodate 600 people at a time. They traveled on moving chairs across the America of the future. $50.

Glimpses of the Pan American Exposition is a booklet cleverly die-cut into the shape of a Buffalo's head. This 1901 exposition took place in Buffalo, New York. While it was undoubtedly a wonderful fair, it is now best remembered as being the place where President McKinley was assassinated. Item 92. $75.

You might think McKinley's successor would be scared off from attending fairs, but nothing scared Teddy Roosevelt. A year and a half later, he was presenting the Address of President Roosevelt upon the occasion of the Opening of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, April 30, 1903. This fair celebrated the centennial of America's greatest land purchase and expansion. Item 110. $50.

You may reach Marc Selvaggio at 800-356-2199 or dsbooks.comcast.net.

Rare Book Monthly

  • RareBookBuyer.com
    We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
    RareBookBuyer.com
    Specialized in Purchasing
    Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
    RareBookBuyer.com
    We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
    RareBookBuyer.com
    Specialized in Purchasing
    Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
    RareBookBuyer.com
    We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
    RareBookBuyer.com
    Specialized in Purchasing
    Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
    RareBookBuyer.com
    We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
    RareBookBuyer.com
    Specialized in Purchasing
    Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
    RareBookBuyer.com
    We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
  • Sotheby's
    Fine Books, Manuscripts & More
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s: William Shakespeare.
    The Poems and Sonnets of William Shakespeare, 1960. 7,210 USD
    Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens.
    A Christmas Carol, First Edition, 1843. 17,500 USD
    Sotheby’s: William Golding.
    Lord of the Flies, First Edition, 1954. 5,400 USD
    Sotheby's
    Fine Books, Manuscripts & More
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s: Lewis Carroll.
    Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, Inscribed First Edition, 1872. 25,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien.
    The Hobbit, First Edition, 1937. 12,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: John Milton.
    Paradise Lost, 1759. 5,400 USD
  • High Bids Win
    Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines
    and Machine Manuals
    December 24 to January 9
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Ellis Smith Prints unsigned. 20” by 16”.
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: United typothetae of America presidents. Pictures of 37 UTA presidents 46th annual convention United typothetae of America Cincinnati 1932.
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec signed Paper Impressionism Art Prints. MayMilton 9 1/2” by 13” Reine de Joie 9 1/2” by 13”.
    High Bids Win
    Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines
    and Machine Manuals
    December 24 to January 9
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Aberle’ Ballet editions. 108th triumph, American season spring and summer 1944.
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Puss ‘n Boots. 1994 Charles Perrult All four are signed by Andreas Deja
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Specimen book of type faces. Job composition department, Philadelphia gazette publishing company .
    High Bids Win
    Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines
    and Machine Manuals
    December 24 to January 9
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: An exhibit of printed books, Bridwell library.
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur Court By Mark Twain 1889.
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 1963 Philadelphia Eagles official program.
    High Bids Win
    Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines
    and Machine Manuals
    December 24 to January 9
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 8 - Esquire the magazine for men 1954.
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: The American printer, July 1910.
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Leaves of grass 1855 by Walt Whitman.

Review Search

Archived Reviews

Ask Questions