The printing plate for the Certificate of Award and this smaller test plate of the building are significant survivors of the Sydney International Exhibition of 1879 (17 September 1879 to 20 April 1880) and outstanding examples of the engraver's skill. Over 7,500 certificates (or diplomas) were produced from this plate and presented to prize exhibitors with a (mainly) bronze medal, but the certificate constituted the most important part of the award (Young 1983: 77). The printing plate is also significant in the history of the Powerhouse Museum which began with the collections of the Sydney International Exhibition.

The Exhibition itself was a determining landmark in the history of the Colony of New South Wales - marking as it did - the State's sense of achievement, progress, and aspirations on the world stage. The colonial architect, James Barnet's exhibition building rose and was completed in the Governor's Domain on Macquarie Street within the remarkably short period of eight months. The cruciform plan at its axis featured a renowned dome which dominated Sydney's harbour skyline and no doubt inspired the Premier, Sir Henry Parkes to coin the appropriate term, 'Garden Palace'. Among the celebrated firsts associated with the event were the use of electric light to build around the clock, and the use of a steam tram to transport visitors. The Official Record published in 1881 was fulsome in its praise of the event, and the visitation of 1,022,000 was offered as evidence of its great success. As Executive Commissioner PA Jennings (Sydney Morning Herald, 21 April 1880) crowed, 'The name of New South Wales has resounded throughout the civilised world . . .'.

The design of the certificate was eventually awarded after a repeat of the competition to Harry Kent, and re-worked by his daughter Annette Kent. The difficult task of engraving the printing plate was given to the American Banknote Company who had engraved 'the much admired Centennial (Philadelphia) Diploma'. To judge by the account of its manufacture, the plate now in the Museum is the spectacular result of much painstaking effort at great expense. The work of engraving the plate took six months 'by keeping six highly-skilled experts on it, who never lost an hour' (Record 1881: cxxvi). The Official Record also notes gratefully that Sydney was charged at actual cost, and many hundred pounds less than Philadelphia. A smaller plate illustrating the Garden Palace building was also acquired by the Museum, and may be a test piece for the illustration at the bottom of the diploma plate. The certificates themselves were printed by the Government Printer in Sydney and it seems returned afterwards to the maker's archive in New York.

These origins have ensured the Museum's consistent interest in documenting the Exhibition resulting in the most varied and comprehensive collection from the 'Garden Palace' in existence. This printing plate for the Exhibition certificate of award and its smaller associated plate depicting the Exhibition Building are important additions to the collection. These plates will join ceramic vessels and other items from the Exhibition's displays, souvenirs, medals and dies, and a variety of ephemera that remarkably includes the cheque book used by the Commission to pay for the medals. In particular the printing plates compliment the steel dies used to make the medals, so that the Museum now has the printing plate made by the American Banknote Company in New York for the diplomas, and the master dies made by Wyon and Co. in London for the medals.

The building's accidental destruction by fire on 22 September 1882 was met with universal dismay, as evidenced by the availability even as late as 1906 of postcards illustrating the building. This Museum's collection, which was in the Garden Palace building at the time, had to be started afresh.
(Paul Donnelly)

Refs
Official Record of the Sydney International Exhibition, 1879. Sydney, 1881

Maguire, R., 'Preserving the Memory of the Garden Palace in Print', in Peter Proudfoot et al., Colonial City, Global City: Sydney's International Exhibition, 1879, Crossing Press, 2000

Young, L., 'Let them see how like England we can be: An account of the Sydney International Exhibition', unpublished MA thesis. University of Sydney, 1983

Free, R.; McDonald, P.; Young, L.; Wade, J., 'Sydney International Exhibition 1879: an exhibition celebrating the centenary of the Sydney International Exhibition' Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, 1979

In order to best reflect the aspirations of the Sydney International Exhibition, the organising Committee of Judging and Awards was explicitly conscious of ensuring the design and production of appropriate prize-certificates and medals. Due to a lack of time the system of awards adopted was that used in Philadelphia at the Centennial Exhibition of 1876. The Certificate of Award (or diploma) was considered the principal award of the Exhibition, with an exhibitor receiving one for every prize exhibit, but only one medal regardless of the number of prize-winning exhibits. This explains why out of 7,554 certificates awarded, the medals only totalled 5550 (based upon the 13,104 total of certificates and medals listed in the Official Record, 1881: cxxx). Officially four categories of merit were accorded although in practice it was five, with the subdivision of First Degree of Merit into an additional First Degree of Merit Special category. The award level was hand written in the space provided in the centre of the diploma along with the name of the exhibitor and the exhibit type.

The design and manufacture of the plate reflected the global ambitions of the exhibition. Entries in the first competition failed to inspire the Committee and so a second was held. Somewhat begrudgingly the design of Harry C. Kent of Sydney whose 'ideas were good' was accepted but on the condition that the Committee could make any changes they thought necessary (Record 1881: cxxv). It must be hoped that any misgivings on Mr Kent's part regarding this proviso were ameliorated by the fact that it was his daughter, Annette Kent, who was employed to complete the task. The final design features allegorical figures of New South Wales and Britannia at the centre surrounded by the six Australian colonies who participated in the Exhibition. Approaching from the sides bearing gifts are Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States.

The difficult undertaking of engraving the printing plate was given to the American Banknote Company of New York, USA who had engraved 'the much admired Centennial (Philadelphia) Diploma'. This smaller plate illustrating the Garden Palace building may be a test piece for the illustration at the bottom of the diploma plate. To judge by the account of the Certificate's manufacture, the plates now in the Museum is the spectacular result of much painstaking effort at great expense. The work of engraving the main plate took six months 'by keeping six highly-skilled experts on it, who never lost an hour' (Record 1881: cxxvi). The Official Record also notes gratefully that Sydney was charged at actual cost, and many hundred pounds less than the Philadelphia certificate. The certificates themselves were printed by the Government Printer in Sydney and returned afterwards to the maker's archive in New York.

Refs
Official Record of the Sydney International Exhibition, 1879. Sydney, 1881

Maguire, R., 'Preserving the Memory of the Garden Palace in Print', in Peter Proudfoot et al., Colonial City, Global City: Sydney's International Exhibition, 1879, Crossing Press, 2000

Young, L., 'Let them see how like England we can be: An account of the Sydney International Exhibition', unpublished MA thesis. University of Sydney, 1983

Free, R.; McDonald, P.; Young, L.; Wade, J., 'Sydney International Exhibition 1879: an exhibition celebrating the centenary of the Sydney International Exhibition' Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, 1979

The Sydney International Exhibition of 1879 (17 September 1879 to 20 April 1880) was a milestone in the Colony's sense of achievement, progress, and place on the world stage. The colonial architect, James Barnet's exhibition building rose and was completed in the Governor's Domain on Macquarie Street within the remarkably short period of eight months. The cruciform plan at its axis featured a renowned dome which dominated Sydney's harbour skyline and no doubt inspired the Premier, Sir Henry Parkes to coin the appropriate term, 'Garden Palace'. Among the celebrated firsts associated with the event were the use of electric light to build around the clock, and the use of a steam tram to transport visitors. The Official Record published in 1881 was fulsome in its praise of the event, and the visitation of 1,022,000 was offered as evidence of its great success. As Executive Commissioner of the Exhibition, PA Jennings (Sydney Morning Herald, 21 April 1880) crowed, 'The name of New South Wales has resounded throughout the civilised world . . .'.

The building's accidental destruction by fire on 22 September 1882 was met with universal dismay, as evidenced by the availability even as late as 1906 of postcards illustrating the building.

The whereabouts of the main plate (or even the existence of the smaller plate) was not known until its appearance for sale in the Dr Tory Prestera Collection at Stack's Auction House in New York. The Powerhouse Museum was the successful bidder enabling these plates to be an exceptional addition to the Museum's already comprehensive collection of material documenting this seminal event.

Refs
Official Record of the Sydney International Exhibition, 1879. Sydney, 1881

Maguire, R., 'Preserving the Memory of the Garden Palace in Print', in Peter Proudfoot et al., Colonial City, Global City: Sydney's International Exhibition, 1879, Crossing Press, 2000

Young, L., 'Let them see how like England we can be: An account of the Sydney International Exhibition', unpublished MA thesis. University of Sydney, 1983

Free, R.; McDonald, P.; Young, L.; Wade, J., 'Sydney International Exhibition 1879: an exhibition celebrating the centenary of the Sydney International Exhibition' Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, 1979

Test plate wire paper wrapping, illustrating the Garden Palace Exhibition, Sydney International Exhibition, steel, made by the American Banknote Company, New York, United States of America, 1879

Polished steel plate in landscape format featuring an engraving of the Garden Palace building from the north within laurel [or olive] wreath. Under the building is engraved the misspelt title: SIDNEY EXHIBITION BUILDING.

Accompanying the test plate is a paper wrapper.

Made: American Banknote Company; New York, New York, USA; 1879

See part records for details.

2007/121/2

1879