Centennial International Exhibition stock certificate 1875 (Philadelphia Pennsylvania) 

Amazing and rare centennial fair certificate.  Interesting vignette of the Liberty Bell flanked by American Shields with 1776 and 1876 dates. Dated 1875. Issued and not cancelled. Measures approximately 10.5 x 8.5 inches. Vertical folds from mailing. 

Used to fund the $10 million cost of the fair. This cert is for 5 shares at $10 each but collected only $2 share with a payment plan with interest for the full amount. 

We have not seen this particular issuance before for the 1876 Philadelphia event.

In 1876, the first official World's Fair was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dubbed the Centennial International Exhibition. On the opening day of the Centennial International Exhibition, the bells across the city of Philadelphia rang in celebration. U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, accompanied by his wife and the Emperor of Brazil, officially opened the Exhibition, with 186,272 attendees on the first day.

It was 1876, and the Exhibition was to celebrate the centennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Visitors paid 50 cents to travel through five large buildings and several smaller ones viewing products and inventions from 37 countries.

The most popular exhibition was in the massive Machinery Hall: the Corliss Centennial Steam Engine. It was started up a couple of times a day, quietly spinning its 56-ton flywheel. Other American inventions, such as the typewriter and Alexander Graham Bell's telephone, were also on display. The exhibition lasted from May until mid-November, and nearly 10-million people attended. International visitors were in awe, marking the exhibition a complete success.

The idea of the Centennial Exposition is credited to John L. Campbell, a professor of mathematics, natural philosophy, and astronomy at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. In December 1866, Campbell suggested to Philadelphia Mayor Morton McMichael that the United States Centennial be celebrated with an exposition in Philadelphia. Naysayers argued that the project would not be able to find funding, other nations might not attend, and domestic exhibits might compare poorly to foreign ones.

The Franklin Institute became an early supporter of the exposition and asked the Philadelphia City Council for use of Fairmount Park. With reference to the numerous events of national importance that were held in the past and related to the city of Philadelphia, the City Council resolved in January 1870 to hold the Centennial Exposition in the city in 1876.

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