Feb 28, 2020
Who else is excited for that extra day tomorrow? Happy Leap Day!
Image: Mayer, Merkel & Ottmann, printer. Use Dalley's magical pain extractor. The great family ointment. New York : Mayer, Merkel & Ottmann, lith, [ca. 1880].
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Who else is excited for that extra day tomorrow? Happy Leap Day!
Image: Mayer, Merkel & Ottmann, printer. Use Dalley's magical pain extractor. The great family ointment. New York : Mayer, Merkel & Ottmann, lith, [ca. 1880].
Does this half dragon/half bird chasing an insect qualify for #Feathursday?
We're honestly not sure anymore.
Anyway, Happy Appreciate a Dragon Day!
Image: Painter, Read & Eldredge, Fashionable Clothing, Franklin Hall, 321 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. [Philadelphia, ca. 1880]. Chromolithograph; 6.5 x 10 cm.
Today marks the Autumnal Equinox, or the first day of fall! The leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and this 1880s trade card has reminded us that it’s officially #psl season and we could really use another cup of coffee.
Bufford’s Lith, printer. Union Tea Co. Boston : Bufford’s, c1880. 1 print: chromolithograph; 5 x 8.5 cm.
This trade card is one of twenty-five in a series issued by W. Duke Sons & Co., gotta catch em’ all!
Donaldson Brothers (Firm), printer. Rolling cigarette. [graphic]. New York : Donaldson Brothers [ca. 1890] 1 print : chromolithograph ; 10 x 6 cm. (4 x 2.5 in.)
Philly is getting that Fall feeling today with temperatures and humidity finally taking a break. Bring on the sweater weather because librarians love their cardigans.
Graf Brothers, printer. Use Eavenson's diamond soap. Philadelphia : Graf Bros, c1882. 1 print : chromolithograph ; 13 x 7.5 cm. (5 x 3 in.)
Behold! It is the amazing, space saving Murphy bed of old!
This detail of a 19th century trade card advertising Philadelphia Furniture, shows how the piece transforms from what looks like a wardrobe to a bed.
It is the final week to see Stylish Books: Designing Philadelphia Furniture, but don’t fret, you can explore the exhibition online at https://librarycompany.org/stylish/
[Richard and Rosalind Berman collection of Philadelphia trade cards] [graphic]. United States , [ca. 1831-ca. 1920]
For this week’s #MagnificentCollections we highlight Emily Phillips, a collector of some of our favorite trade cards.
Emily Phillips (1822-1909), descended from one of the first Philadelphia Jewish families, gave her collection of trade cards to the Library Company in 1882. A shareholder in the Library and a philanthropist, Phillips supported several local Jewish benevolent organizations, including the Hebrew Education Society and the Jewish Maternity Association, while collecting nearly two thousand trade cards representing all manner of Victorian Philadelphia businesses from ice to velocipedes.
Visit the trade card collection HERE.
This trade card advertising West End Clothing House certainly gives us the #MayFlowers (and slightly surreal) feels.
Compliments of the West End Clothing House, 1634 Market Street, Philadelphia. J. Kuh; prop'r. [graphic]. [Philadelphia?] [ca. 1885]