Updated on May 13, 2026: This has been sold.
Produced for the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, the bookmark was manufactured by Thomas Stevens of Coventry, England, the inventor of the famous woven silk picture process known today as Stevengraphs.
Very rare is the fact that it's still attached to the piece of paper it was on when it was handed out in Philadelphia in 1876
The silk panel features a portrait of George Washington flanked by crossed American flags beneath the words:
“Centennial U.S.A.”
“The Father of Our Country”
Below the portrait appears the well-known tribute to Washington:
“First in peace, first in war, first in the hearts of his countrymen.”
The lower section includes a depiction of Memorial Hall from the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition above an American shield and “Philadelphia 1776–1876.”
Beautifully framed and matted.
Size of frame: 10" x 18.5"
Shipping: $25. Please allow two weeks for shipping.