World Columbian Exposition Antique Souvenir Paperweight made by the Libbey Glass Co. — 1893

Updated on June 4, 2026: This has been sold.

Souvenir paperweight featuring a bird’s-eye view of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition grounds at Jackson Park in Chicago.

Produced as a solid glass paperweight, the piece features a black-and-white panoramic image of the fairgrounds set against a white opalescent, or “milk glass,” base beneath a clear polished dome.

Note that Libby used different photos for the background, with most of the others being individual buildings. This is a rare one with the image of the entire Exposition.

Paperweights of this type, popular during the Victorian era, were created using a process patented by William H. Maxwell of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This example was produced in the Libbey kiln constructed at the Columbian Exposition itself, making it a remarkable surviving souvenir connected directly to the fair.

The image is titled:

“Birds Eye View Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893.”

Size:

Shipping: $10. Please allow two weeks for shipping.