Title |
Edward Stern & Co. |
Date |
fl. 1871-ca. 1945 |
Description |
Edward Stern & Co., the printing and lithography establishment formed in 1871 by Jewish brothers Edward Stern (b. 1849) and
Simon Adler Stern (1838-1904), printed chromolithographed cards, bookmarks, and calendars, and published books, pamphlets,
and journals, including "The Penn Monthly." Another brother, Harry F. Stern (i.e., Henry F., b. 1855) entered as a partner
in the firm in 1877. Both Harry and Edward previously worked in the printing and publishing industry while financier Simon
had owned a millinery goods shop, S.A. & D. Stern, with his brother David Stern at 724 Arch Street.
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Edward Stern & Co. began printing operations on the upper floors of 11 North Sixth Street, but moved to the first floor of
125 and the third and fourth floors of 127 North Seventh Street in October of 1875, a move possibly motivated by a fire on
May 29, 1874 that destroyed approximately $20,000 of their property. Fire again affected the firm on June 27, 1879, but they
were able to recover and remain at the site until a massive explosion in the adjacent chemical laboratory of Wiley & Wallace
(123 North Seventh Street) killed and injured several men, and badly damaged the firm's property on November 11, 1889. Within
the year, they relocated to 35 North Tenth Street and Simon began his tenure as the treasurer of the Finance Company of Pennsylvania,
a role for which he retired from the printing firm by 1894. Despite Simon's absence, Edward Stern & Co. survived and flourished,
so much so that by 1898 they had incorporated and were farming out work to other printers and lithographers, including Theodore
Leonhardt & Sons. The firm moved again to 112 North Twelfth Street, and in 1907, purchased stables and dwellings at Seventeenth
and Vine Streets to erect a large printing house designed by Ballinger & Perrot. Although loft and factory buildings were
constructed, the firm relocated to 140 North Sixth Street in 1908. The firm operated in Philadelphia until at least 1945.
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Simon A., Edward, and Harry F. were all raised by German millinery shop owner Julius Stern at 836 North Fifth Street, west
of Northern Liberties (Ward 12). By 1860, eight children resided in the household, including Simon A., Edward and Harry F.
All three men resided at the address until ca. 1890. Simon A. passed away in 1904, and Edward resided with various family
members until 1902, when he is listed as a boarder at the Union League on Broad Street.
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Is part of |
Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers |
References |
See Leonhardt, Theodore. |
Has format |
HSP-Stern-Tradecards-S.jpg |
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HSP-Stern-Tradecards-Sverso.jpg |
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HSP-SternTradecards-S-bookmark.jpg |
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HSP-Stern-Tradecards-S-bookmarkverso.jpg |
Call number |
Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers |
Bibliographic citation |
Census 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 |
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Library Company of Philadelphia research file |
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Morais, The Jews of Philadelphia (Philadelphia: The Levytype Company, 1894), 347 |
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North American, May 30, 1874 and January 1, 1877 |
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Philadelphia Business & City Directories, 1868-1945 (intermittently) |
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Philadelphia Inquirer, May 4, 1904, June 5, 1907, November 12, 1889 |
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Printers' Circular, January 1878 |
Image file |
HSP-Stern-Tradecards-S |
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HSP-Stern-Tradecards-Sverso |
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HSP-SternTradecards-S-bookmark |
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HSP-Stern-Tradecards-S-bookmarkverso |