Typography Tuesday
We just love the use of typography in 19th-century advertisements. Not too long ago we highlighted some Wisconsin examples from an 1880 Oshkosh publication. Today we present examples from an early Milwaukee publication, The Emigrant’s Hand Book and Guide to Wisconsin, by Samuel Freeman, published in Milwaukee by Sentinel and Gazette Power Press Print in 1851, just three years after Wisconsin became a state. Freeman’s effort was to attract European immigrants fleeing political unrest and crop failures to Wisconsin as a safe and prosperous haven. This was deemed necessary as Wisconsin was losing population to the Gold Rush in another new state, California.
Having snazzy typographic advertisements at the end of the guide demonstrated the prosperity of the state’s major city. The effort seems to have worked, as the population of Wisconsin during the 1850s increased over 200% because of immigration. We particularly appreciate the final advertisement in the guide -- Beer and Books. What more does one need?
View some of our other Typography Tuesday posts. h