Dear kyraeh,
Here are the results of my research using online sources and printed materials:
-- The Organization --
The London International Exhibition on Industry and Art of 1862 was
at first organized by the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and
Trade; on 14 February 1861, a Royal Commission took over.
-- Attendance and other Statistics --
Visitors: 6,211,103
Exhibiting Countries: 36 (excl. colonies etc.)
Exhibitors: Approximately 29,000
Exhibits: Approximately 80,000
Surface Area of the Exhibition: 12.5 hectares
-- Exhibiting Countries --
Since it proved impossible to find a complete list of exhibiting
countries online or in the library, this is a partial list of
countries that did participate:
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Denmark
Egypt
France
Germany (see note below)
Great Britain
Greece
Holland
Russia
Sweden-Norway (still one country in 1862)
Switzerland
Turkey
United States of America (see note below)
Concerning Germany: Germany would not be a unified nation before 1871.
At the 1862, the numerous independent German states like Prussia and
Bavaria were present at the International Exhibition. Many of the
Northern German states appeared together as members of the
Prussian-led Zollverein (Customs Union).
Concerning the USA: Though torn by Civil War, the United States had
not cancelled their participation. However, only few American exhibits
were shown.
Since almost no independent African states existed in 1862 - at least
not from a European point of view -, only few would appear on a
complete list. Five years later, at the 1867 Paris World exhibition,
only two were present according to the original documents: Egypt and
Morocco. One can assume that in 1862, things were similar. If or if
not Liberia participated in the London Exibition remains unclear.
-- General Background --
The very first World Exhibition, which took place London in 1851, was
an outstanding success, attracting six million visitors. After the
1855 World Exhibition in Paris had been similarly successful, a second
"Great Exhibition" on British soil was planned. Preparations started
in 1858. Originally, the World Exhibition was to have taken place in
1861, but the Italian War of Independence and the resulting political
crisis almost brought the preparations to a complete halt in 1859. It
was not before the end of that year that work on the Exhibition
resumed.
Prince Albert, prince consort of Queen Victoria, the spiritual father
and leading supporter of the entire world exhibition idea, could not
commit himself as much as he would have liked to the new Exhibition
because of his poor state of health. His death on 14 December 1861 was
an additional burden for the 1862 Exhibition, after the outbreak of
the American Civil War and the resulting crisis in the British textile
industry due to the shortage of raw cotton from the American South had
already put a serious threat on the exposition.
Despite all these problems, the International Exhibition opened on 1
May 1862. It featured more participating countries, more exhibitors
and more exhibits than the previous two World Exhibition. When the
gates closed on 1 November 1862, it had attracted 6.2 million
visitors. Though attendance was slightly higher than in 1852, public
enthusiasm was not as overwhelming. Lacks in organization and display
were criticized, the system of awards and medals for outstanding
exhibits had proven to be ridiculous since more than half of the
exhibitors received such awards. After the 1862 International
Exhibition, it was not intended to hold any further World Exhibitions
in Great Britain.
For more detailed additional information on the 1862 International
Exibition, you may want to have a look at the respective section of
"The History of World Expositions" on the Expo2000 website:
http://www.expo2000.de/expo2000/geschichte/detail.php?wa_id=2&lang=1&s_typ=1
For research purposes, you may also be interested in the "Illustrated
Catalogue of the International Exhibition London 1862", which is
available as a 1973 reprint for $63.93 from John Ives Bookseller,
England:
http://www.abebooks.com/home/JOHNIVES/
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=266111964
Additional sources used:
Martin Wörner: Die Welt an einem Ort - Illustrierte Geschichte der
Weltausstellungen. Published by Dietrich Reimer Verlag, 2000. ISBN
3-496-01215-3
Wolfgang Friebe: Architektur der Weltausstellungen 1851 bis 1970.
Published by Verlag W. Kohlhammer, 1983. ISBN 3-17-007722-8
Gavin's Egyptomania Pages: Works of Art - Egyptian Museum, Cairo
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/gavin.egypt/worksart1.htm
Best regards,
Scriptor |
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