Catalog Archive
Auction 136, Lot 271

1935 San Diego Pacific International Exposition

"[Lot of 4] California Pacific International Exposition San Diego",

Subject: San Diego, California

Period: 1935 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Printed Color

Size:
30.5 x 21 inches
77.5 x 53.3 cm
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This lot is a set promotional booklets, maps and views for the 1935 International Exposition with the original mailing envelope. This exposition, held in Balboa Park, was the second World's Fair. Today the fair's grounds and buildings are used by the San Diego Botanical Gardens, the San Diego Museum of Art, Timken Museum of Art, the Natural History Museum and more.

The first is a large folding poster that has a decorative and colorful illustrated map of San Diego on one side and The California Pacific International Exposition on the verso, both drawn by Don Bloodgood for the Shell Oil Company. This great California cartoon-style map was drawn in a style very similar to the work Jo Mora. The view of the exposition featuring all of the buildings and exhibits. It is filled with caricatures of people and is surrounded by a wide decorative pictorial border. Little is known about the artist, but several of his maps are held in the Library of Congress historical maps collection. Size as given.

The second item is a very uncommon aerial view of the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition drawn by J.B. Larrinaga (art director for the Exposition). This full colored lithograph looks west over the exposition grounds with San Diego and the bay in the distance. This large and colorful folding brochure is directed at potential exhibitors, promising "your exhibit will bring record-breaking sales results" and promises "Millions of Visitors" will attend. Size as given.

The third item is the 8 page brochure of the exposition "California through San Diego invites the world, California Pacific International Exposition." The cover is a photograph of the Palace of Science, today's Museum of Man. At the back is a plan of the grounds with an index to 30 buildings, gardens and exposition halls. The original mailing envelope is hand addressed to the First National Trust & Holding Bank "via Messenger". Together this is a rare collection of promotional items for the upcoming exhibition.

References:

Condition: A+

All very near fine. The envelope is toned and missing its glue-down flap.

Estimate: $400 - $600

Sold for: $250

Closed on 6/1/2011

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