Commems Collection Classic: 1892 Columbian Exposition - Special Day Badges

Yes, I have documentation for the additional details I supplied to the original post. I have copies of letters between one of the Directors of the Columbian Exposition and the FH Noble Co. I also have copies of articles found in the Daily Inter Ocean and Chicago Tribune Newspapers describing the badges and the selling price. I just found the reason for the two different colored ribbons for the Columbus Day badge. The ribbons were Blue and Yellow since those were the official colors of Spain (Chicago Tribune Oct. 28, page 2). I am a student of the Columbian Exposition half dollar and all related ephemera such as these badges.

Here is a photo of the Columbus Day badge with yellow ribbon.

Appears orange to me based on the photos ... but truly acknowledge your apparent expertise on this topic.

David

This is really interesting stuff!

I've grown up with little bits of Columbian Exposition trivia being passed to me throughout my life, and always enjoy learning more. As a child family were always pointing out locations of various buildings. As I grew older the renovation at Navy Pier and its new Ferris Wheel paid homage to the fair and reminded us of its legacy. I've done a few tours of the grounds and few remaining walls and crumbling foundations.

No trip to the Museum of Science and Industry, the last surviving building from the fair, is complete without taking in the architectural details that show it's past as the Palace of Fine Art rather than a museum of science. Fun fact; it remains standing due in part to the Great Chicago Fire. Exhibitors were hesitant to bring priceless art to Chicago in the fire's wake, so it was constructed from brick and kept windowless as a means of insuring the collections safety. Other White City buildings were mostly wood and plaster, and hastily constructed. After the fairnclosed, fire ravaged them, save one.

Obama's Presidential Museum is to be constructed in Jackson Park on the site where once stood the Horticulture Building (Greenhouse). I hope they do something to honor the fair there through a collection of artifacts like these medallions.

In my short time collecting, I've purchase two 1893 halfs, and have been waiting for the right 1893 to come along. I suspect I'll have many more Columbian pieces in my future.

It looks yellow on my end.

I am a Clemson guy so I know what real orange is.

Of course, the Tennessee folks might try to call that orange. It is not.

Kidding aside, I could probably pull this thread up on another monitor and it may look more orange or more yellow than it does now.

This intrigued me, so I did a bit of digging to see if I could uncover the sales distribution across the three days.

Interestingly, I found notice of between 25,000 and 30,000 of the Chicago Day badges being made up and sold on the Exposition grounds and in local stores in the days that followed Chicago Day (October 9). Accurate or contemporary mis-reporting of the actual sales data? (We all know that newspapers aren't always 100% accurate!)

Time for some more research!

I am curious where you found the notice of 25,000 to 30,000 of the Chicago Day badges being made up and sold on the ground or in stores after Oct 9. I enjoy the research and I am always on the lookout for more details.