Extremely rare and important, this poster advertised the Ferris Wheel on the midway at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. It was the top lot in the sale, won by a private collector in Chicago on a $13,530 bid.
Review by W.A. Demers; Photos Courtesy Milestone Auctions
WILLOUGHBY, OHIO — Safe to say it has outlived its subject matter. Milestone Auctions’ September 30 sale featuring World’s Fair, advertising and coins was led by a rare survivor — an 1893 World’s Fair original Ferris Wheel poster. Extremely rare and important, the poster advertised the Ferris wheel on the midway at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. The lithographer was the Winters Art Litho Co in Chicago. And that is where it is returning, won by a private collector in the Windy City on a $13,530 bid. The poster’s maximum frame dimensions were 33-5/8 by 45-7/8 inches, and the visible dimensions were 30 by 42 inches.
More 1893 Columbian Exposition memorabilia proved desirable. A Tiffany & Co 1893 Columbian Exposition US Naval Exhibit page turner/bookmark sold for $9,225. Marked Tiffany & Co sterling with a logo on back side, the front of the bookmark had an image of a battleship on the lake in front of the exposition buildings. A rare piece made for the exposition at a weight of 8 troy ounces, it was in excellent condition.
Rare and important, a set of Tiffany & Co medals from the exposition was unique, having been presented to director general George R. Davis. The medals were nested in their original presentation case signed by Tiffany & Co on the inside lid and rose to $7,073.
World’s Fair director general George R. Davis was presented with this set of Tiffany & Co medals from the exposition, thus they were unique and accompanied by their original presentation case. They sold for $7,073.
Further, possibly the rarest form of pressed glass made by Libbey at the exposition was a Vaseline glass frog figure, mouth agape in mid-croak. He sat upon a base that was approximately 2-7/8 inches square and stood 4-5/8 inches high, Remarkably, condition was Near Mint to Mint with no damage, encouraging a $5,412 winning bid.
Remember the Ferris wheel discussed above? Well, a $2,952 bid won a rare ticket for a ride on the wheel. It was in excellent condition.
Also commemorating the World’s Fair was a cast iron Columbia Bank from the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The still bank had base dimensions of 7 inches square and stood 9 inches high. With original gold paint intact and the base with its coin cover, it elicited $2,829.
A Polyphon upright disc player made by Schutzmarke of Leipzig, Germany, played to $7,688. Standing 83 inches tall, it featured a two-part case with the music box on top and disc storage in the bottom. When tested it was working and came with a selection of discs.
A working Polyphon upright disc player made by Schutzmarke of Leipzig, Germany, accompanied with a selection of discs, played to $7,688.
An Alex Beckers stereoscope card viewer, all original and very ornate in nice condition, 20 inches tall, went out at $2,214.
Jumping six decades or so, an original 1958 Philco Predicta pedestal television with 21-inch screen, a scarce floor model complete and in very clean original condition, sadly did not power up when tested, but nevertheless found a buyer at $1,722.
Prices given include the buyer’s premium as stated by the auction company. For information, www.milestoneauctions.com or 440-527-8060.
