Author: Edwards, Richard
Title: Edwards' Illustrated Report of the Fourth Annual Fair of the Saint Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association
Description: St. Louis, MO: Published at the Office of edwards' Monthly, A Journal of Progress, 1859. First edition, n. d. (1859); 9 1/4 x 6 1/4; pp. 239; textured blue cloth over boards; lavish gilt decorations and title; rubbing with small loss of paper to tips of spine; some wear to corners and edges of boards; upper margin of first and last several leaves with light moisture stain (not affecting readability); illustrated with numerous and elaborate full-page and in-line wood engravings; faded previous owner's inscription to first blank page; overall very good- condition. An uncommon survivor of the mid-19th century, the book documented the second to last pre-Civil War St. Louis annual fairs. In 1855, a group of prominent St. Louis citizens had founded the "St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association," which began holding the fairs starting in 1856. The association purchased a 50-acre tract and the largest amphitheater in the United States was built, seating 12 000 people with standing room to spare. From its onset, the fair was a roaring success, featuring booths with wine and beer, livestock exhibitions, food, crops, and the newest and fanciest farm machinery, tools, vehicles, and household inventions. Also present were a horserace track, a gigantic 3-story poultry exhibit hall, flower expo, and more. When the Civil War began, the grounds were taken over by the Government and used for military and training purposes. The celebrated amphitheater was transformed into one of the largest hospitals in the country. After the war the land was returned to the association and the annual fairs were resumed. The last official one was held in 1902. The book was created by Richard Edwards, publisher of the journal Edwards' Monthly, and contained exhaustive reports and articles on every department of the fair, including horses and mules, flowers, poultry, fabrics, names of visiting dignitaries and reporters, natural history of Missouri, as well as a short history of the Agricultural and Mechanical Association. All the chapters were illustrated with stunning wood engravings of that year's winning horses, the President of the association, bird views of the grounds, machinery, etc. Scarce, with two copies in institutions and one other in the trade (as of September 2014). Ill.: 0. 2.

Keywords: Agriculture, Fairs 0


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