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1939 World\'s Fair Key Stanhope Charm Listing Rare 1939 New York World\'s Fair \"Key to the City\" Stanhope Charm
Sterling Silver • Designed by Walter Lampl • Multi-View Stanhope Optics
Up for sale is an extremely rare and highly collectible 1939 New York World\'s Fair \"Key to the City\" Stanhope Charm crafted in solid sterling silver. This authentic piece of World\'s Fair memorabilia features a spherical Perisphere handle containing a microphoto Stanhope optical viewer with 5 vintage views of landmark New York City sights.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
- Multi-Picture Microphoto Intact: Features a 5-image black-and-white montage including lower New York skyline, the Gay White Way / Broadway at night, International House / Riverside Church / Grant\'s Tomb, Rockefeller Center, and historical skyline views under a \"New York City\" heading.
- Rare Figural Key Design: A scarce figural key variation featuring a Perisphere globe handle holding the Stanhope optical rod.
- Authorized Walter Lampl Design: Created by renowned NYC jeweler Walter Lampl, who held sole official authorization from the New York World\'s Fair Corporation to manufacture silver Stanhope jewelry for the 1939 fair. Piece unsigned.
Microphoto Lens View Details
Looking through the microphoto lens reveals a rare multi-view black-and-white photomicrograph titled \"New York City\" at the bottom. Despite expected vintage age-wear (some bubbling along the frame edges), the 5 core landmark views remain clearly visible:
- Top Center: International House, Riverside Church, and Grant\'s Tomb, New York
- Left / Upper-Left: \"The Gay White Way\" — Broadway at Night
- Middle-Left: Historical 1910 New York Skyline
- Under Skyline: Rockefeller Center, New York
- Lower-Right / Bottom-Left: Lower New York Skyline at Night over the East River
Single-Family Estate Provenance
Direct Heirloom Provenance: This charm comes directly from a private single-family collection. It was originally purchased in person by the seller\'s grandmother during her visit to the 1939 New York World\'s Fair (\"The World of Tomorrow\") at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park and has remained safely within the family ever since.
Maker & Optical History
About Walter Lampl: Operating from NYC\'s 47th Street and 5th Avenue showrooms between 1921 and 1945, Walter Lampl, Sr. produced celebrated fine and costume jewelry. His charms showcased technical genius, leading to the official license from the New York World\'s Fair Corporation for silver Stanhope charm production.
About the Stanhope Viewer: Named after British scientist Charles Stanhope (b. 1753), the Stanhope lens is a specialized cylindrical glass magnifying rod (flat on one end, convex on the other). Combined with 19th-century photomicrography, these micro-optics allowed tiny, highly detailed photographic images to be viewed when held up to a light source.
Item Specifications Event 1939 New York World\'s Fair Maker / Designer Walter Lampl Design Motif Key to the City / Perisphere Globe Material Sterling Silver Optics 5-Picture Black & White Photomicrograph Lens Condition Functional Image (Visible views; vintage bubbling/edge wear) Condition Notes
This charm is in authentic vintage condition with a natural silver patina. The internal Stanhope lens is functional, and the five landmark photographs can be seen clearly when pointed toward a bright light source. As noted, there is age-appropriate bubbling along the outer borders inside the lens, but the central imagery remains intact. Image shown of photomicrography is best picture possible from outside of viewer, when viewed correctly image fills the lens.
Shipping & Handling
Your item will be packaged with care and shipped promptly with full insurance and tracking.
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