The Philadelphia Ornamental Wood Co. Medals, 1786 collection is a set of six wooden medallions, in original box, commemorating the 1876 International Exhibition held at Fairmont Park, Philadelphia. Four of the medals measure 2.5 inches in diameter. The other two are 3 inches in diameter. The reverse of the smaller medals contains the inscription "The 100TH Anniversary of American Independence; Great International Exhibition; Fairmont park; Philadelphia; 4th of July; 1876." The reverse of the two larger medals reads "The 100th Anniversary of American Independence; 4th of July 1876; Exhibition Open from May 10 to Nov 10 1876; Fairmont Park; Philadelphia; U.S. America."
The underside of the box lid is a lithograph of the view of the exhibition grounds and buildings. The lithograph, published by Breuker & Kessler of Philadelphia, is titled "Birds Eye View of the International Exhibition Buildings 1876." Also written on the lithograph is the inscription, "Manufactured by the Ornamental Wood Co., Phila." The box also is inscribed: "Manufactured by the Philadelphia Ornamental Wood Co. 1129 Cherry Street."
The 1876 International Exhibition held at Fairmont Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from May 10 to November 10, 1876 attracted over ten million viewers to witness the latest inventions and products produced by the United States and the thirty-four other participating countries. Two Philadelphians, Thomas Hartell and John Letchworth, applied sometime between April 1874 and April 1875 for patents for four different designs of commemorative metals of the Exhibition. While their application was successful other enterprising citizens also applied for medal design patents and were granted that right. This led to an ultimately unsuccessful lawsuit being filed by Hartell and Letchworth against, among others, John H. Schreiner and Frederick C. Viney. Almost immediately after the dismissal of the suit the State of Pennsylvania granted Schreiner, Viney and a few other men a charter for the incorporation of the Philadelphia Ornamental Wood Company on April 29, 1876.
Breuker & Kessler, founded by George W. Breuker, Sr. and Harry C. Kessler, Sr. in 1866, was a Philadelphia lithographic enterprise that remained in business until the 1930s. Breuker & Kessler appear to have made multiple lithographs pertaining to the International Exhibition, one of which led to them being successfully sued for copyright infringement by Toudy & Co. The lithograph done by Breuker & Kessler in this collection does not appear to be the image that was the focus of the lawsuit.
