New Orleans 1885: Exposition Trade Cards.....

Trade cards were a popular form of advertising during the latter half of the nineteenth century, and were distributed by almost every exhibitor at the 1884-1885 World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, and the 1885-1886 North, Central and South American Exposition. These cards were produced in various sizes, shapes, and styles; and ranged from simple black & white lettered versions, to elaborate multi-colored works of art. The type of card handed-out by an exhibitor generally represented the prominence and financial success of his company. Most trade cards contained eye-catching and witty advertising on the front, and information about products or services on the reverse side. Since trade cards were distributed at no cost, they were collected by exposition visitors as free souvenirs; and proudly glued into scrap books, which were gaining in popularity during the 1880's. A large "Exposition Scrap Book" was produced for sale, so that visitors might separate their exposition trade cards from other cards they had collected. Pictured below are several types of New Orleans exposition trade cards, produced from 1884-1886:

New Orleans 1885: Souvenir Books.....

Illustrated souvenir books were one of many popular items sold in cities and other points of interest during the 1880's. The detailed lithographs contained in these books, reproduced from photographs and artists drawings, provided tourists with an inexpensive visual record of their travels. Several types of illustrated souvenir books were produced for sale in New Orleans during the 1884-1885 World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, and the 1885-1886 North, Central and South American Exposition. The majority of the illustrations contained within the accordion-fold souvenir books were points of interest in New Orleans, including Canal Street, City Hall, the St. Charles Hotel, Jackson Square, the French Market, St. Louis Cemetery, Spanish Fort, and scenes along the levee. All illustrations of the 1884-1885 exposition were artists conceptions of the grounds and buildings, as the souvenir books were produced prior to the exposition's completion. Similar illustrated souvenir books were again issued for the 1885-1886 exposition, but contained the same artists conceptions of the exposition grounds and buildings, re-titled as the North, Central and South American Exposition. Below are several examples of these illustrated souvenir books, sold during the 1884-1886 exposition period:

New Orleans 1885: Exposition Guide Books.....

To assist persons visiting New Orleans during the 1884-1886 exposition periods, several illustrated guide books were published. These guides not only provided information about both expositions, but also contained detailed information about the city of New Orleans. In preparation for the 1884-1885 World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, a 162-page official guide-book was published, titled "The New Orleans Guide and Exposition Handbook". This guide contained fold-out maps of New Orleans and the exposition grounds, and was filled with information about the city. However, only a small portion of the guide was actually devoted to the exposition, and contained mainly promotional material, much of which was inaccurate. A second guide book, titled "Visitors' Guide to the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition and New Orleans", contained only 48-pages, but was much more accurate in describing the exposition than the so-called "official" guide. In preparation for the 1885-1886 North, Central and South American Exposition, an official 64-page guide book was published, titled "Official Visitors' Guide to the North, Central and South American Exposition". This guide, although limited by its size, was very detailed. The book also included a brief tour of the exposition grounds, listing a majority of the restaurants and refreshment stands. Some critics advised visitors against purchasing any of the so-called exposition guides, since none of these publications were completely accurate. All three of the exposition guide books are pictured below:

New Orleans 1885: Magazine & Newspaper Illustrations of the Exposition.....

Numerous articles about the New Orleans exposition could be found within the pages of the period’s many illustrated publications, including The Century Magazine, Harper's Weekly, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, The Youth’s Companion, and St. Nicholas. These articles not only promoted the exposition, but also served as a travelogue and substitute for those who could not attend. A variety of educational articles were published, containing descriptions of the grounds, buildings, and exhibits; with some including entertaining stories about the behavior and mannerisms of exposition visitors. During the 1880’s most magazines and newspapers still used line-drawings to illustrate their publications, since half-tone illustrations, reproduced directly from photographic images, had not yet been perfected. Some of these detailed drawings were based on actual photographs, while others were artist interpretations; but the majority were a combination of both. Below are several of the many line-drawings produced to illustrate the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, taken from period magazines and newspapers:

New Orleans 1885: Workman's Tickets.....

For many weeks after the exposition's December 16th opening, numerous laborers were still required on the incomplete exposition grounds. To identify these workers from paying visitors, daily workman's tickets were issued to all contractors, framers, roofers, glaziers, painters, brick-layers, plumbers, and landscapers. The tickets were produced in several colors, which allowed for simple authentication of any particular day's ticket. The valid date was displayed within the colored background, with the ticket's identifying information printed on top. Similar tickets were again used in late-1885, during the opening weeks of the North, Central and South American Exposition. Below are three examples of workman's tickets, issued during late-December of 1884:

New Orleans 1885: Promotional Envelope.....

Illustrated envelopes were one of many advertising methods used to promote the 1885 World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition. Requests for information, received by the exposition’s management and the numerous state commissioners, were promptly replied to and mailed-out using various sizes and styles of official envelopes. One official envelope featured detailed line-drawings showing three of the exposition's major structures: the Main Building, Government Building, and Horticultural Hall. The reverse side contained printed information, which gave a detailed description of the upcoming exposition. Similar envelopes were also used the following season, to promote the North, Central and South American Exposition. This form of advertising was both inexpensive and effective, due to the many hands the envelope passed through before reaching its destination. Below are two images of this unique method of advertising:

New Orleans 1885: Color Illustrations of the Exposition.....

Prior to its opening, the 1885 World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition was extensively advertised throughout the United States. Many promotional newspaper articles contained illustrations of how the exposition grounds and buildings would appear after completion. However, many of these illustrations were misleading; showing verdant grounds and ornately designed buildings. In actuality, the majority of the exposition grounds were sparsely landscaped, and many of the buildings less architecturally ornate than the pre-opening illustrations portrayed them. In the summer of 1885, when the North, Central and South American Exposition exposition was being promoted, many of the original illustrations were again used, despite their inaccuracies. Below are several of the color images used to promote both expositions; which also appeared in many New Orleans souvenir books: