What’s It Worth?: Reader’s find related to agricultural expo, not World’s Fair

When is an exposition not a world’s fair? One reader sent us on a research safari to eastern Canada to uncover the answer.

Q. I bought this celluloid press badge at a recent Tri-City antiques show. We thought — since we found it here in the Northwest — the badge probably had something to do with either the Seattle or Portland world’s fairs of the early 20th century. But it just says “Montreal.”

Can you help? — Dolores in Kennewick

A. This turned out to be a pretty tough question to answer. That the 3-inch badge is made of celluloid is a good indication that it dates to the late 19th century.

Celluloid was invented in 1857, and by the last decade of the 1800s, it was all the rage for consumer products. Things like brush handles, billiard balls, picture frames, even some jewelry were made of celluloid. And, obviously, it was useful for making credentials for reporters.

Looking at the badge, one might think the last number is missing from the date of the Exposition. 189-what? Well, that’s not the case. When you examine the surface very closely, there’s a little smudge where a fourth number would be, but no evidence that there ever was a number there. This may not show well in today’s photo, but — trust us on this one — 189 is the number of the badge itself, not part of a year date.

Besides, this badge was a journalist’s credential for the Montreal Exposition of 1884!

When people see the word “exposition” today, many immediately think World’s Fair. There were Expo ’74 in Spokane, Seattle’s 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition and the Lewis & Clark Exposition in Portland in 1905.

So — Montreal Exposition equals World’s Fair, right?

Nope. The only world’s fair ever staged in Montreal was in 1967.

So, what is this thing? Something from an exposition that wasn’t a world’s fair? Exactly.

By the early 1880s, the Canadian economy was booming and especially the city of Montreal.

So they staged a nine-day-long fair and called it the “Grande Exposition Agricole et Industrielle de la Puissance.” Translated, that’s “Grand Exposition of Agriculture and Industry of the Dominion.”

The Montreal fair included displays presenting livestock, implements, new machinery and scientific curiosities of the era. It was primarily designed to show off Canada’s manufacturing capabilities. In line with European traditions, awards and prizes were presented to top exhibits. In addition to the official displays, there were hot air balloon trips, fireworks, horse races, and merry-go-rounds.

In eastern Canada, its best market, this item could be worth from $50 to $100.

Q. My husband inherited these vases from his grandmother. He remembers them in her home in the 1920s. There are no marks on the bottom; they appear to be handpainted, and are 11 and 12 inches tall. We would appreciate any information.— Carol in Hermiston

A. This trio of lovely vases are a type of opaline glass, specifically what collectors call Bristol Glass. They were made in England and could be as much as 125 years old.

Before we get to values, here’s some history. Bristol was a center of glass manufacturing in England as early as 1740. There were a number of makers and their products included decanters, goblets and vases like these. The most popular were in a cobalt blue with gilding and handpainted decoration.

It wasn’t long before similar glassware was being produced all over England. But the name stuck and it was all called “Bristol Glass,” even though much of what is seen today wasn’t made in Bristol.

By the 19th century, there was so much of this kind of glass being made in the British Isles that vast quantities were exported to America. The English glass was so inexpensive that the competition led to the demise of a number of American glass companies.

Two of these vases are a pair, which is the way they were typically sold. The single vase may well have once had a mate.

Values are lower than 15 or 20 years ago. At a good quality shop, we expect the pink glass pair to be priced between $25 and $50. The larger white center vase has a ruffled edge, which would make it a bit higher priced — from $35 to $50.

This story was originally published August 6, 2016 at 5:52 PM with the headline "What’s It Worth?: Reader’s find related to agricultural expo, not World’s Fair."