Invitation of the Imperial Commissioner of Japan for the Worlds Columbian Exposition to the Dedication of the Hooden Phoenix Palace. March 31, 1893. Extremely Fine. 8 inches x 5 inches (as folded and printed). Printed form on plain paper, in black, with green ornamental underprint. Folded for insertion into the plain presentation envelope, which is intact and present. Also included is the printed card for admittance to the event in the Manufactures Building at 5503 Cornell Avenue, Chicago. According to <em>The Official Guide to the Worlds Columbian Exposition</em>, published in 1893, the Japanese exhibit "is said to be the handsomest and costliest ever made by the Empire." It is worth noting here that just 40 years prior to the Fair, Japan was essentially a closed society, prior to Commodore Matthew Perrys efforts in 1854. Another likely extremely rare survivor from an event held prior to the opening of the Exposition.
