Official descriptive and illustrated catalogue of the Great Exhibition 1851: Vol. II

Official descriptive and illustrated catalogue of the Great Exhibition 1851, vol. II. This is one of 1000 copies of the catalogue which were bound in blue Moroccan leather and decorated with gilt in the workshop of the celebrated London bookbinder Robert Riviere. The cover depicts a central enthroned figure dispensing wreathed crowns to stylised figures representing the four continents - Africa, Asia, Europe and America. This symbolised the international scope of the exhibition. The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations was held in Hyde Park from 1 May to 15 October 1851. It was the world's first international exhibition, and displayed exhibits from all across Britain, the imperial colonies and other foreign countries.