Souvenir
Woven in The Worlds Columbian Exposition Chicago 1893

 
 

original stiff backing paper
used to support bookmark in the post
attributed to J.J. Mannion

 
 
 
 
 
 

SOUVENIR
WOVEN IN THE WORLDS COLUMBIAN
EXPOSITION CHICAGO 1893

 
 
draped flag
 
 
 
 

image of building

U.S. GOVERNMENT BUILDING.

 
 
 
 

image of early American
Stars & Stripes flag
with cannon

 

18.6cm long by 6.4cm wide

 

Not signed as a STEVENS bookmark, and whilst still attached to the original stiff backing paper, this too does not have the Stevens name.

There is recorded in this Stevens bookmark catalogue a number of " SOUVENIR " bookmarks, featuring the Worlds Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893. Over several years the early membership of the Stevengraph Collectors Association looked at the stiff backing papers for these SOUVENIR bookmarks. From admittedly a small sample, the conclusion was nevertheless drawn that:
where the printing on the stiff backing paper said " SOUVENIR WOVEN AT THE . . ", the attached bookmark had been woven by STEVENS.
where the printing on the stiff backing paper said " SOUVENIR OF DISCOVERY . . ", the attached bookmark was attributable to J.J. MANNION.
Both Stevens and Mannion had looms working, so both wove silks, although it seems likely Stevens supplied the cards for both looms. It also seems as if both exchanged bookmarks, so will find the same silk on both labels.
From this conclusion, it would suggest the bookmark above is attached to a Mannion stiff backing paper.