Details
Contributor Gilbert, W. S. (William Schwenck), 1836-1911 Mikado.
Sullivan, Arthur, 1842-1900 Mikado.
Donaldson Brothers (Firm), printer.
Hall, W. Otis, distributor.
Title Pooh-Bah. [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 Pooh-Bah. He stands holding a closed fan and frowns. He wears his hair in a chonmage hairstyle and is attired in a blue and white patterned kimono with birds with a red obi and has 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: I'am so proud, if I allowed, my family pride, to be my guide, you'd never hear, within your ear, Coats six cord thread, stand at the head, but family pride, must be denied, and set aside, and mortified, and so you hear, within your ear, Coats six cord thread, stands at the head.
Advertising text printed on verso: White, black and colors for hand and machine. J & P. Coats' Best Six Cord Thread.
Stamped on verso: W. Otis Hall, Retail Fancy Goods, Washington Street. Boston, Mass.
Subject J. & P. Coats.
Actors.
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.2024.38.3]
Accession number P.2024.38.3