Beschreibung:

Buildings of the Great Central Fair, in Aid of the U.S. Sanitary Commission Philadelphia June 1864.
Philadelphia: P.S. Duval & Son, 1864. Chromolithograph (450 x 705 mm). Condition: lightly toned, some repaired marginal tears. Provenance: Martin P. Snyder. "This view from the northwest corner of the square shows the extent of the fair's buildings, which cover the entire grounds and are dominated by a central flagpole with an enormous American flag on which is lettered 'U.S.S.C.' In the left background is the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul. This elaborate fair to raise money to help the sick and wounded of the Army and Navy opened on June 7, 1864, and ran for three weeks. President Lincoln and his wife visited it on June 16" (Wainwright). This fair represented the high water mark for Philadelphia volunteerism and benevolence, with over $1.5 million raised by thousands of individuals. The Sanitary Commission was successful in centralizing the many trade, religious and ethnic groups that had individually prepared to contribute to the effort. Entertainments and donations at the fair included "an all-star baseball game, opera performances, and American Indians performing traditional dances … donated articles that ranged from parrots 'well accustomed to low company,' with vocabulary to match, to heirlooms, farm products, five gallons of water from the Amazon River, and a donkey said to have served in the War of 1812" (Nash, First City, pp. 246-247). Wainwright 35; Wohl Collection 199; Deak 789.