Great Exhibition Collection
- Reference
- GREAT EXHIBITION
- Extent
- Around 200 items
- Date
- 1851 and 1951
- University Collection
- Special Collections
The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, also known as the Crystal Palace Exhibition, was held in Hyde Park, London, from 1 May to 15 October 1851.
The collection contains around 150 printed books and periodicals, plus pamphlets and ephemera, approximately 50 prints, and some objects. It includes the Commission’s official catalogues and jury reports, handbooks, unofficial guides and accounts; serious contemporary comment on the likely influence of the exhibition on industrial design and development, and on society as a whole; less serious, sometimes satirical contemporary comments; popular, often pictorial material, souvenirs and similar pieces.
There are also later, secondary works and works on the 1951 Festival of Britain and other international exhibitions and world fairs.
The core collection was acquired in 1966 from Charles Hasler and additions are made.
More information
- Most printed books are searchable via the catalogue
- Read a Featured Item article on an item from this collection: 1851: or, the adventures of Mr and Mrs Sandboys and family
Looking for a specific item?
We are regularly updating the collections that we publish on our website but if you are after something specific that you can’t find online, then drop by for a visit or feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help you.