Diploma of Honorable Mention issued by the Board of Lady Managers of the Worlds Columbian Exposition. November 17, 1894. Very Fine. Approximately 15 inches x 19 inches overall; print area approximately 9.5 inches x 12.5 inches. Partial printed form in black, with awardee and related details penned in. Signatures of Bertha Honoré Palmer as President of the Board of Lady Managers, Virginia C. Meredith as "Chairman" [sic] of the Committee on Awards, and George R. Davis as Director General of the Columbian Exposition. Filled out to Eben Putnam, as "a Designer" who assisted with the exhibit of "Salem Press Publishing and Printing Co. - Massachusetts." Heavily embossed seal of the Board of Lady Managers at the lower left. Putnam was the son of Frederick Ward Putnam and an employee of Salem Publishing at the time of the Exposition. While Salem Publishing was awarded the medal offered in the previous lot, this document was to Eben Putnam personally and not otherwise related to the referenced medal. Folded five times with some additional wrinkling around the edges. No repairs or edge splits, though there is a short separation around the border of the embossed seal. Some light foxing is also noted. Likely issued in large quantities, but now a rarely seen form.
