Views of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in Natural Colors

San Francisco: Pacific Novelty Co, 1915. Limited Edition. Very Good. [10x13in, oblong] unpaginated 32 pp., 31 tipped in color prints from images including a fold out aerial view by photographer Gabriel Moulin with tissue guard; Light green heavy paper wrapper with embossed dark green lettering, designs and embossed light blue frame border with mounted color print of Exposition buildings from the San Francisco bay on front, green cord three point tied binding, prints are 6.5x8.5in and fold out print 9x23.5in; Some shelf wear to covers, edges and corners with some fading, creases at corners and edges, some rubbing and soiling, several prints have minor creases at corners, one print with several light red markings, tissue guard at fold out print creased, page six is blank and shows no evidence of a print removed. The Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) was a major west coast event in 1915. This was an early promotional souvenir albums of the PPIE. The prints are vibrant in colors and clarity. The fold out "Aeroplane View.... from Silas Christofferson ....at an altitude of 1500 feet" is especially impressive with the color printing of the PPIE grounds over a black and white image of San Francisco. The image -is dated 1914, likely just prior to the official opening, by Gabriel Moulin (1872-1945). Moulin was a well known San Francisco architectural photographer of building interiors and views of San Francisco. Likely he hired aviator Silas Christofferson (1890-1916) to take the aerial images. Christofferson was a partner with another early aviator, Fred Bennett, in an Airship company. In 1914, he set a national record of reaching an altitude of almost 16,000 feet flying over Mt. Whitney.

The 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) was a significant event for San Francisco, California and the United States. The planning for the exposition began in 1904, two years before the devastating 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed most of the City and caused significant damage to most of the bay area. As part of the rebuilding and recovery efforts for San Francisco, the PPIE world fair opened in February 1915 to enthusiastic crowds. The over 600 acres were beautifully designed and promoted as a community of eleven exhibition "palaces", 21 foreign pavilions, 48 State buildings and a 65 acre amusement zone. The design of the buildings and grounds was an inspirational mix of Greco Romanesque style with modern architectural, artistic and technological elements. Until closing in December 1915, over 18 million visitors enjoyed the exposition, the City and California. After closing, most of the "temporary" buildings were demolished, except for the Fine Arts Palace, lake and grounds (designed by Bernard Maybeck and still in use in 2021) and a few others relocated. The San Francisco Legion of Honor art museum is a replica of the PPIE French pavilion. The land was intended to be sold off for residential and commercial development, which is now known as the Marina District.