Columbiana Collectors
News about interesting antiques, auctions,
and vintage collectibles from the 1893 World’s Fair
NEWS ABOUT ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES FROM THE WCE
The Decline of Christopher Columbus
CoinWeek has published an article describing yet another arena in which the commemoration of Christopher Columbus is in decline: coin collecting. Heinz Tschachler’s “Christopher Columbus: His Decline in Numismatics and the Nation’s Collective Memory” chronicles the “flagging interest” in the explorer due to both the lack of an authentic portrait of Columbus and changing social and cultural views of his place in history. Tschachler includes a description how the [...]
Sept. 15, 2020: World’s Fair Auction #37 closes
Columbian Exposition collectors may be interested in World’s Fair Auction #37, now open for preview. Online bidding closes on Tuesday, September 15, 2020. The auction catalog can be viewed at: http://www.worldsfairauction.com/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi. Lots 22 through 57 are items related to the 1893 World’s Fair, and include several products commemorating various building of the White City: numerous Columbian Exposition coins and medals; a colorful box for the Picture Puzzles of the [...]
Tiffany Coffeepot from the World’s Columbian Exposition Sells for $68,750
An exquisite coffeepot made by Tiffany & Company and exhibited at the 1893 World’s Fair sold for $68,750 in July by Skinner auctions. The 10¼-inch-tall sterling silver and enamel piece, adorned with lapis lazuli and acid-etched arabesques, far exceeded its estimate of $15,000–25,000. Tiffany showcased eight “after-dinner” coffeepots in the company’s pavilion inside the Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building at the Columbian Exposition. A Tiffany & Co. sterling [...]
1893 World’s Fair Director’s Medal Sells for $3,240
A rare Director’s medal from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition sold for $3,240 in Heritage Auctions’ April 26, 2020, coin auction.
Autographed Letter about Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and the 1893 World’s Fair Sells at Auction
A letter inviting the International Folk-Lorre Congress of the 1893 World's Fair to attend Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show has sold at auction for $937.50. Heritage Auctions' February 20, 2020, "Americana & Political Signature Auction" included the hand-written letter from Nate Salsbury, manager of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Company. An 1893 letter from Nate Salsbury, manager of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, inviting the International Folk-Lorre Congress at [...]
POSTPONED March 29, 2020: 26th Annual World’s Fair Memorabilia Show (Elk Grove Village, IL)
This event has been postponed. The 26th Annual World's Fair Memorabilia Show will be held on Sunday, March 29, 2020, from 10 am to 4 pm at the Holiday Inn at 1000 Busse Road (Rt. 83 and Landmeier Rd.) in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Collectors and dealers will meet to buy, sell, and trade items related to World's Fairs from 1876 to the present. Although the main focus will be on [...]
Mar. 3, 2020: World’s Fair Auction #36 closes
Columbian Exposition collectors may be interested in World’s Fair Auction #36, now open for preview. Online bidding closes on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. The auction catalog can be viewed at: http://www.worldsfairauction.com/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi. Lots 22 through 59 are items related to the 1893 World’s Fair, and include several products commemorating various building of the White City: a handsome powder jar made of milk glass and featuring a color image of an [...]
World’s Columbian Exposition Rat Traps
Although little has been written about them, rats must have been present on the fairgrounds of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Rats also contributed to a unique Columbian Exposition product. The excerpt below, from “Traps Suited to the Rat’s Taste” published in the November 4, 1894, issue of the Philadelphia Times, describes commercial rat traps having themes related to the Midway Plaisance: It seems like rats are like persons. [...]
1893 World’s Fair Safe Bank Featured on “Antiques Roadshow”
Antiques Roadshow on PBS featured a rare 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition safe bank on their show “Meadow Brook Hall, Hour 2” (Season 23 Episode 2; aired January 14, 2019) shot in Rochester, Michigan. The nickel-plated cast iron “still bank” (not a mechanical bank) with combination lock features the northern hemisphere on top with copper inlays portraits depicting Christopher Columbus, U.S. President Grover Cleveland, and World’s Columbian Exposition President Thomas [...]
Oct. 22, 2019: World’s Fair Auction #35 closes
Columbian Exposition collectors may be interested in World’s Fair Auction #35, now open for preview. Online bidding closes on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. The auction catalog can be viewed at: http://www.worldsfairauction.com/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi. Lots 17 through 55 are items related to the 1893 World’s Fair, and include several products commemorating various building of the White City: a lovely "Columbus Panorama" tri-fold book that depicts "American Declaration of Independence July 4th, 1776," [...]