The Auditorium Album Value Guide

The Auditorium Album is a prestigious Gilded Age souvenir commemorating the 1889 completion of Chicago's iconic Auditorium Building. Designed by the legendary firm Adler & Sullivan, this photogravure book captures the architectural grandeur of what was once the world's most advanced theater and Chicago's tallest skyscraper.

What Is The Auditorium Album Worth?

The typical price range for The Auditorium Album is $110 - $120 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The physical condition of the gold leaf detailing and the integrity of the cloth spine.
• Completeness of the photogravure plates, as missing pages significantly reduce the $110-$120 market value.
• Presence of foxing or water damage on the internal paper, which is common in Victorian-era souvenirs.
• Historical provenance or signatures linking the specific copy to the original Chicago Auditorium Association.

How to Identify The Auditorium Album?

• Look for the distinctive gold leaf lettering and decorative embossing on the cloth-bound cardboard cover.
• Verify the presence of high-quality photogravure plates depicting the interior theater and exterior masonry.
• Check for the publication date or attribution to the late 1880s or early 1890s following the building's dedication.
• Confirm the materials include heavy-weight paper stock consistent with late 19th-century promotional publishing.

History of The Auditorium Album

Published shortly after the completion of the iconic Auditorium Building in Chicago, designed by the firm Adler & Sullivan. This book serves as a promotional and commemorative piece, showcasing the architectural masterpiece that once housed the world's most advanced theater and was the tallest building in Chicago. It reflects the grandeur of the American Gilded Age and the rise of Chicago as a cultural hub after the Great Fire.