1991.90

World's Columbian Exposition Certificate

Law, William, designer

Large paper certificate; at bottom, Columbus steers a large canoe filled with four figures representing the "races of the world"; to the left, "Columbia" holds a laurel wreath upward, pointing the way to the White City of the fair, depicted in a semi-circular lunette across the top of the engraving; a reclining figure in Greek garb rests on a fallen Bison and gestures to three naked boys of different races.

H-31 W-24.25 inches

1893

Schlect, Charles, engraver

Certificate presented to the American Printing House for the Blind as an "award for an excellent representation of specimen books for the blind" at the Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893. Engraved by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, U.S. Treasury Department. Awards were received by 36% of exhibitors. The diplomas were designed by William Law who did much of the fresco work at the fair. "Columbia" was a female personification of first the Americas, but later more specifically the United States.

APH Collection, 1991.90