Centennial Scrapbook, 1876

The two volumes comprising the Bosbyshell family scrapbooks colorfully illustrate business, industry, and graphic design of the 1870s. The scrapbook belonging to John Albert Bosbyshell commemorates the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. Packed with approximately 500 advertising cards, the scrapbook makes evident the Centennial's celebration not only of the country's 100th year of independence, but it's developing industrial prowess on the world stage. On these cards that were distributed as souvenirs to visitors, merchants and manufacturers vividly display their wares and machinery, from fine shoes, toilet soaps and mantel clocks to threshing machines and double oven ranges. Many of the cards show detailed illustrations of merchandise, store fronts or factories; others carefully describe the wares in words alone, relying on multiple styles and sizes of typeface for design. While the few folded pieces are mounted to allow opening, almost all the cards are pasted to the page so that the verso cannot be accessed. The front and back covers also are decorated each with a colorful advertisement cut out in a large circle. Stenciled around the front cover are the words "Centennial Album 1876." On the back cover is "J. Albert Bosbyshell." While the few folded pieces are mounted to allow opening, almost all the cards are pasted to the page so that the verso cannot be accessed. Since John Albert would have been six years old at the time of the Centennial, perhaps the carefully laid-out scrapbook was assembled by an adult. That is no doubt the case of the second scrapbook, which has the word "GATHERINGS" printed across its decorative leather cover. As inscribed on the inside front page, the scrapbook was given to "James Rex Bosbyshell-- from his Mother. Christmas 1879." This book is also filled with richly-colored graphic images, all thoughtfully placed on the pages. While many of the items are advertising cards, all of which appear to pertain to Philadelphia businesses and stores, a number of small cut-out figures, flowers, animals and other decorative images are placed between the cards. Other pieces carry words of advice or love rather than an advertising message. Some images have no text, filling the page with landscape scenes or floral still lifes. There are also cards with images of the exhibition buildings at the Philadelphia Centennial as well as from the Paris Exposition of 1878.