| Contributor |
Gilbert, W. S. (William Schwenck), 1836-1911 Mikado. |
|
Sullivan, Arthur, 1842-1900 Mikado. |
|
Donaldson Brothers (Firm), printer. |
| Title |
The Mikado. [graphic]. |
| Publisher |
New York : Donaldson Brothers |
| Publisher |
UNITED STATES. 1880 |
| Date |
[ca. 1880] |
| Physical Description |
1 print : chromolithograph ; sheet 8 x 12 cm (3 x 4.5 in.) |
| Description |
Racist trade card promoting thread manufacturer J. & P. Coats and depicting a character from The Mikado or, The town of Titipu,
the opera by W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Shows the white man actor in character as the Mikado, or Emperor. He stands
holding a closed fan and smiles at the viewer attired in a headpiece, a blue kimono decorated with gold birds and flowers
and red trim, with a sword at his waist. An oversized spool of thread labeled, "J & P. Coats 200 yds 50 best six cord," is
in the right. Brothers James Coats, Jr. (1803-1845) and Peter Coats (1808-1890) established the firm J.&P. Coats, a thread
manufactory. Their brother Thomas Coats (1809-1883) joined the firm soon after. By 1840, three quarters of the British company’s
business was with the United States. In 1896, the firm merged with thread manufacturer Clark & Co. and formed J. & P. Coats,
Ltd. In 2015, the firm was renamed, “Coats Group.”
|
| Notes |
Title from item. |
|
Date deduced from the history of the advertised business. |
|
Text printed on recto: My object all sublime! Shall attain in time. To let the punishment fit the crime, the punishment fit
the crime. All people who have to do sewing and don't use Coats' six cord thread, will be punished with cotton that's snarly
and rotten and kinks, till they wish they were dead.
|
|
Advertising text printed on verso: White, black and colors for hand and machine. J & P. Coats' Best Six Cord Thread. |
| Subject |
J. & P. Coats. |
|
Actors. |
|
Emperors -- Japan. |
|
Daggers & swords. |
|
Fans. |
|
Fans (Accessories) |
|
Japanese -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Japonism. |
|
Kimonos. |
|
Operas & operettas. |
|
Orientalism. |
|
Racism in popular culture. |
|
Yellowface. |
|
Thread. |
|
Thread industry -- England. |
|
AAPI. |
| Genre |
Chromolithographs -- 1870-1880. |
|
Trade cards -- 1870-1880. |
| Location |
Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| Trade Cards - J. & P. Coats [P.2024.38.1] |
| Accession number |
P.2024.38.1 |
