For our new exhibit curated by Allison Fischbach, “1876 Centennial Exhibition Chromolithography Proofs,” Meredith Moore scanned and animated a few of the proofs to show the different stages involved!

Developed in the 19th century, chromolithography, or “chromo-printing,” was a color printing method that used multiple flat stones or zinc plates to apply layers of color to a print. The process was incredibly labor intensive and high quality prints could take months to produce. Printers and shop workers were highly skilled in all aspects of development, from applying images to plates, to etching, to printing final proofs.

Contained in this very special volume, Treasures of Art, Industry and Manufacture Represented in the American Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia 1876 Proof Book (T825 .P45 N678 1876 Cage) are proofs outlining the entire printing process from base layers of color, to fine detailed highlights. Developed for the 1876 American Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, this collection was printed by Cosack & Co. of Buffalo, N.Y. In the preface editor C.B. Norton explains the impetus for this commemorative collection was to show items of art, industry, and manufacturing presented at the exhibition from countries around the globe.

Check out the exhibit June 13 – July 30, 2016!

