Description:

Bartholdi Frederic

A Tiffany Color Invitation Commemorating the 1886 Dedication of the Statue of Liberty!


1p Tiffany & Co. 9-line printed invitation to a banquet hosted by the New York Chamber of Commerce to commemorate the inauguration of the “Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World” in New York Harbor.  In very fine condition. Minor mounting traces verso. Invitation measures 5.125” x 6.5.” Accompanied by a photocopy of the original Delmonico's banquet seating chart.


The heavy cream stock invitation is decorated by an embossed wreath and crossed U.S. and French flags at top. An image of the Statue of Liberty appears in the left background, and a Greek krater, Phrygian cap, and rod of Asclepius are rendered in grisaille at top. The invitation reads: Banquet by the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York in honor of the Representatives of the French Republic and other Distinguished Guests who participated in the Ceremonies attending the Inauguration of the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, on Bedloe’s Island, New York Harbor, October 28th 1886.”


This card invited the bearer to attend post-unveiling festivities at Delmonico’s Restaurant on Thursday, October 28, 1886 at 6:30 pm. Delmonico’s, an elite eatery located at Fifth Avenue and Twenty-Sixth Street, was well-known for its sophisticated menus and posh clientele. The accompanying seating chart shows how dignitaries were seated at a long banquet table positioned perpendicularly to 5 double-sided tables.


243 French and American guests attended the soiree, which culminated in numerous bilingual speeches including one by the sculptor, Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, according to the 29th Annual Report of the Corporation of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York in 1887. “The dining hall was handsomely and appropriately decorated with the flags of the two nations, and the tables beautifully and tastefully adorned with flowers”, the municipal report observed. The evening celebrated Bartholdi’s artistic achievements, recognized transnational fundraising efforts, and fostered good will between the two countries.


Earlier that day, and after ticker-tape and nautical parades, 24th U.S. President Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), along with dozens of notables, attended the actual dedication ceremony on Bedloe’s island in New York Harbor.


Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi (1834-1904) studied painting, sculpture, and architecture under well-known instructors like Viollet-le-Duc in Paris. Following his service in the Franco-Prussian War, Bartholdi became increasingly interested in sculpting monumental works celebrating resistance against oppression, and Enlightenment ideals like Freedom. Bartholdi later conceived of the design of the “Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World”. The fundraising phase of this process would take years, and indeed long surpass the actual 100th anniversary of the United States. Yet once it was installed in 1886, the massive 151-ft tall copper-clad sculpture of a standing woman would fundamentally change the cityscape.


WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000