A Grand Panorama of the Great Exhibition by J. Mack, from the Illustrated London News, Produced in 1851. Housed in a bespoke marbled & felt case.
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This fine panorama was issued free to subscribers to the Illustrated London News. It is based on daguerreotypes by Richard Beard (1802–1885) and is particularly rare to find. This example is similar to that sold at Sotheby's Great Exhibitions sale in 2006, lot 515. Similar panoramas have also been sold at Christie's, for example that from the 1845 Illustrated London News 3rd Sept 2012 lot 101 for £2,750.
A twenty feet long (i.e. 6.75 metres) series of continuous engravings in double rows reprinted from the Illustrated London News by J. Mack. Underneath each departments are the names of the principal object/invention exhibited. The panorama is prefaced by diagrams 'shewing the fluctuations in the number of visitors, as affected by different days of the week, different scale of payment, rain and heat of the building'; 'shewing the relative fluctuations of different days of the week'; 'shewing the number of visitors actually in the building at every hour on three separate days'.
A full unfurled image of the entire 20 foot long panorama of the British Science Museum's copy can be seen, identifier MSR/029, on their website. Our photography space did not quite allow for a full unfurled photo!
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Size: 675 x 28.5 cm (approx.)
Condition:
The case is in generally excellent condition, with the top label peeling slightly from the felt, but could easily be reglued. The blue title panel of the panorama is stained and worn with some loss to the legibility of the text. The first section has a bit of loss and some peeling of the paper as pictured in the final photo of the listing. The second section also has some less minor loss. The remainder of the panorama is in excellent condition and without loss.
A particularly interesting and unique panorama in a bespoke case to hold it. The panorama retains the original ties.
