Details
Title National Bureau of Engraving and Manufacturing Company
Date fl. 1876-1892
Description National Bureau of Engraving and Manufacturing Company, the commercially-oriented lithographic and printing firm established in 1876 by partners Joseph Carpenter, R. Evans Peterson, Charles E. Mass, and Henry Pennington (also of The Philadelphia Bank Note Company), operated in Philadelphia until 1909. The firm, created for the purpose of "designing and printing labels, show cards, bonds, checks, drafts, and other work and engraving when that process was required," originally operated from Second and Gold Streets, then 435 Chestnut Street, and from 510-512 Pine Street by 1878. Work produced by National Bureau includes an interesting ca. 1880 advertisement using allegorical imagery for A. Marschall & Co. champagne titled "American Triumph" and a chromolithographic advertisement showing the manufacturing of coke at the works of H. C. Frick Company (ca. 1885).
By 1880, the company maintained a branch in Burlington, N. J. and by the late 1880s was reported to have branches in "leading cities of the United States." The firm remained in business until 1909 with Henry Pennington as manager at 652 Philadelphia Bourse despite the company being sold at sheriff's sale in 1889 to businessman Enoch Pratt of Baltimore.
Company manager Henry Pennington was born in Maryland in May 1841, and married to Sarah (b. ca. 1841) with whom he had two daughters, including Mary Engle (1872-1852), the noted bacteriological chemist. According to the censuses, Pennington resided in North Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, and Radnor in households with servants between 1880 and 1910. Pennington died on December 24, 1912. His funeral services were held at the Church of the Savior in West Philadelphia.
Is part of Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
Call number Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
Bibliographic citation Census 1880, 1900, 1910
Last, 215
Library Company of Philadelphia research file
Philadelphia Business and City Directories, 1877-1909
Philadelphia Inquirer, September 3, 1879, August 8, 1888, and December 26, 1912