Restored and improved image

The first Ferris Wheel,
Chicago Illinois, 1894

There were many photos taken of this mammoth structure, but few up close like this. It was built for the World's Columbian Exposition (World's Fair) to rival the Eiffel Tower which was completed in 1894. Construction on the giant wheel began in 1892. It stood 264 feet tall and took 20 minutes for the 36 luxury cars to make one revolution. The square image is not cropped on this 5-inch by 7-inch (5x7) print. So there are white margins on two sides of the image. You can request to substitute images on a CD. (See "CD option" below for details.) Please see our other photos of Chicago and the Columbian Exposition. Check out our other items!

You will receive a new 5x7 sepia-tone luster-finish print that will ship the next business day after you pay, unless you request to substitute the CD. Your request must be made in eBay on the same day that you pay for this item. Larger-size prints are also available, listed separately. (See "Larger-size prints are available" below.)

This improved print was made for you new, in a photo lab. We took great care to preserve the sharpness and old look while removing scratches, spots, and other damage that would make it less viewable. We have repaired imperfections and improved tonal values. 

Why buy this photo:  This improved print would be a good conversation starter in a restaurant, waiting room, lobby, classroom, office, library, or museum in Chicago. Decorators use our sepia-tone prints in a variety of ways to make them look old (see "Tone" below). This photo could also be a gift for a history buff, Ferris Wheel enthusiast, or Chicago buff. It can be resold in a store (see "Wholesale lots" below). Our photos can be used in school reports, presentations, and displays. This is a significantly improved version of this image and it must be licensed for use in a publication, production, or other product (see "Licenses" below). 

Larger-size prints are available, listed separately:  Do not buy this item if you need larger-size prints. You will need to purchase a different eBay item instead. Click "Ask a question" to request information such as price or how to order. Remember that this image is not cropped. So prints have white margins on two sides of the image. Cropped-to-fit versions are available, listed separately. (See "Cropped version is available" below.) 

8x10 (a standard photo frame size)

11x14 (a standard photo frame size)

16x20 (a standard photo frame size)

Cropped version is available, listed separately:  Prints are available in standard sizes with the image cropped to fit. Some of the image will not be visible on these cropped versions. Click "Ask a question" to ask how to order a cropped print.

Tone:  This print has a sepia tone as shown in the first picture. Sepia is the color of old prints today, caused by acid in the old paper. Many people prefer the warm sepia tones over cold black and white. Your sepia print will be on acid-free paper, but it will look old. Black and white, like the second picture, is available, listed separately. Click "Ask a question" to ask how to purchase black and white.

Finish:  This print has a luster finish that reduces glare. Glossy is available, listed separately. Click "Ask a question" to ask how to purchase glossy finish.

Border:  This print has a minimum border on the sides that don't have margins. This means that there may be some white edges (less than 1/4 inch wide) outside the image so that you can display the maximum amount of the image in typical devices that hide the edges of the print.

Quality:  We select the highest-quality images we can find and carefully restore and improve them. Old photos do not meet today’s high standards due to the limitations of the materials and methods available in those days, and due to aging and damage. But we improve them as much as we can while preserving an old look. Then we process them using modern archival methods so they can be affordable and last for many years.

CD option:  You can request to substitute a CD instead of a print. The CD contains more than one version of the image, including at least one cropped close-up, that are optimized for digital presentations, e-mail, social media, and websites. It will also include additional photos of the same Ferris Wheel. The images do not exceed 1200 pixels in the longest dimension, and thus may not fill the screen when used for high definition displays. If we have additional information about an image, we will include a text file as well. You must request the CD in eBay on the same day that you pay for this item. The CD and images shall not be printed nor reproduced for sale nor distribution.

Packaging:  We ship 5x7 prints and CDs flat with a stiff board to prevent folding, in a sturdy envelope.

Shipping cost:  This item is sold with packaging materials and handling included in the price. Domestic postage is also included. For destinations outside the U.S.A., buyer pays actual postage.

Copyright:  This is a significantly cleaned-up and improved version of this image. It is copyright protected and shall not be reproduced without expressed permission.

Licenses:  We own this cleaned-up and improved image and license it for publishing or for use in productions or other products. For each image to be used, a license must be purchased via a separate eBay listing. We list licenses as needed. Click "Ask a question" for more information or to request a license.

Wholesale lots:  If you need a large quantity of this print for framing, for use in classrooms, or for other purposes, please click "Ask a question" to request a wholesale lot. We will create a custom listing in eBay for you. 

Price reductions!  We occasionally mark down many of our popular items for a few days. We are happy to answer your questions. Thanks for looking.