Details
Contributor Gilbert, W. S. (William Schwenck), 1836-1911 Mikado.
Sullivan, Arthur, 1842-1900 Mikado.
Donaldson Brothers (Firm), printer.
Title Nanki-Poo. [graphic].
Publisher New York : Donaldson Brothers
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 Nanki-Poo. He stands holding an open fan with his hands up. He wears a blue decoration in his hair and is attired in a blue-striped coat, red shirt, blue and white obi, red tunic, and sandals. A branch of pink flowers is overhead. An oversized spool of thread labeled, "J & P. Coats 200 yds 50 best six cord," is in the left. 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: The flowers that bloom in the spring, tra la. breathe promise of merry sunshine, as we merrily dance and we sing, tra la, we welcome the hope that they bring, tra la, of a summer of roses and wine. And so, Coats' spool cotton is always a thing as welcome as flowers that bloom in the spring.
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.
Japanese -- Caricatures and cartoons.
Japanese -- Clothing & dress.
Japonism.
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.2024.38.2]
Accession number P.2024.38.2