Opening of the American Centennial Festival Exhibit: A Street in Philadelphia- May 13, 1876

• Artist: Unattributed
• Medium: Woodblock Print
• Publish Details: London: 1876, modern hand coloring
• Measurements: 15 7/8 x 10 7/8 in. (sheet), 20 1/8 x 15 1/8 in. (mat)
• Conditions: Excellent condition

Illustrated weekly newspapers emerged in England and America during the mid-nineteenth century, bringing readers vivid accounts of current events, literature, travel, society, and popular culture. Their greatest appeal, however, lay in the hundreds of finely executed wood engravings that accompanied nearly every issue, providing the public with its primary visual record of the age long before photography became commonplace.

These engravings remain among the most important and evocative sources for images of nineteenth-century people, places, and events. Originally printed in large numbers, relatively few examples have survived in fine condition. Founded in 1842, The Illustrated London News was the first and most influential illustrated newspaper, renowned for its high-quality engravings depicting portraits, landscapes, genre scenes, historical events, and views from around the world.

This handsome print is both an engaging historical document and an attractive decorative piece, offering collectors a tangible connection to the sights and stories that captivated Victorian readers more than a century ago.