Whilst writing the article ‘Dyas & Harman - Almanac for 1856’ (Link 1 below) I found out about a World’s Fair that I hadn’t come across before - The Great Industrial Exhibition 1853 (also known as the Irish Industrial Exhibition) in Dublin that took place between 12 May - 31 October 1853. Perhaps it was overshadowed by The New York World’s Fair which opened on 14th July of the same year and ran for 16 months.

The Dublin fair was visited by Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), on 29 August 1853. At that time the exhibition was the largest international event to be held in Ireland. The building, located on the grounds of Leinster House, on Merrion Square was designed by John Benson who had designed the building for the Irish Industrial Exhibition held in Cork the previous year. The undertaking was entirely funded by William Dargan, entrepreneur and developer of Irish railways. However, overall attendance was lower than expected at approximately 1.15 million visitors, leaving Dargan with a financial loss.

Wikipedia states “The intent of the exhibition was to introduce the industrial revolution to Ireland, which was behind some other European countries…. British exhibits were limited to those companies who were looking for markets in Ireland, with little success.”

We know Baxter exhibited in London 1851, New York 1853 and Paris 1855 but it turns that he also exhibited here in Dublin! The official catalogue of the exhibition, in the ‘Printing, Bookbinding, Paper and Stationery’ section, lists “291 – Baxter G 11 & 12 Northampton Sq, London Inv. And prop. – Specimens of oil colour picture printing, by a patent process.”

I believe this exhibition has never been mentioned before in the context of Baxter. It doesn’t appear that well documented and at this stage I can only find minimal information or reviews.

The ‘Irish Industrial Exhibition of 1853: A detailed Catalogue’ published in 1854 has a small article ‘Chromotypy, or printing in colours; and Lithography, or Lithography in colours’ and gives a basic history of the subject before stating “Within the last ten years it has received considerable extension, and is now much practised in England and on the continent. The finest specimens of coloured surface printing exhibiting Chiaroscuro produced in England are those of Mr Baxter of London” praise indeed but then states “The process, as may be expected, is nothing more than a species of common printing…”

The book then describes his exhibit – “Baxter G Northampton Square London, Inventor Patentee and Publisher. – Frame containing specimens of Oil- colour picture printing, being fac-similes of the original paintings”. Baxter’s 1860 auction catalogue lists at least three large frames of ‘Specimen pictures for show’ one stated as 8 foot 5 inches by 5 foot 7 inches, so substantial. Perhaps it was one of these frames that was used to exhibit here in Dublin?

Looking through the exhibitors in this section there was one other name that stood out. Joseph Mansell was also exhibiting an array of ‘fancy’ goods – Illuminated and embossed ornamental wrappers for linens. Perforated and embossed ornaments and tickets for muslins, woollens etc. Also damask writing papers on which by a patented process, pictorial illustrations are produced in alternate dull and glazed surfaces, wedding stationery and valentines.

We know that Baxter had a large stand at the Crystal Palace in 1854 (Link 2 below), at least when it initially opened, which most probably required that someone be in attendance for most of time. As to the rest of the exhibitions at which he displayed i.e. Great Exhibition of 1851, New York 1853, Paris 1855 and possibly London 1862 perhaps these framed ‘specimen pictures for show’ was all that was required?

He was presumably looking to expand into the Irish market, especially as that was one of the main criteria for attendance. Was he successful or did it just spread the word of his process in an area where he didn’t hold any patent rights?