Pictorial envelope designed by Sesqui-centennial committee members Samuel Dilbert, W. Morris Deischer and Howard L. Boas containing a menagerie of imagery bordering two vignettes. Vignettes depict a view of the Reading "Court House, 1782-1841" and a view captioned "1748" showing Native Americans near a teepee watching a traveling Conestoga wagon from across a river. Other images show a locomotive, factories, train shed, and a winged female allegorical figure holding a trumpet and bolt of lightning, probably representing progress. An anvil, gear, and angle rest at the figure's feet. Over 700, 000 envelopes were printed and distributed nationally. The sesqui-centennial celebration included band concerts; civic, firemen, and industrial parades; grand illuminations; fireworks; and an equestrian and bicycle day., Addressed in manuscript to: Ronalds & Johnson Co., 139 N. 7th St., Philadelphia, Pa., Printed in red ink on recto: Return to E. S. Summons' Plumbing & Heating Co., 209 N. 6th St., Reading, Pa., Ink-stamp postmark on verso: Received Philadelphia, PA Mar 31, 1898 6 30 PM., Publication information from Morton Luther Montgomery, History of Reading, Pennsylvania: and the anniversary proceedings of the sesquice-centennial, June 5-12, 1898 (1898)., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of Helen Beitler and Estate of Helen Beitler.
Date
[c1897]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Helen Beitler Graphic Ephemera Collection - Envelopes [P.2011.10.89]
Verse in four unnumbered stanzas; first line: The shadows of death are upon us, and a calamity has occurred,., On Jan. 9, 1889, a tornado swept over Reading, Pa., destroying the Grimshaw Silk Mill and the Reading Railroad paint shop, killing 17 and injuring more than 100 people., Printed area, including mourning border, measures 25.3 x 19.8 cm., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Creator
Bessel, Fred
Date
[1889?]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare sm # Am 1889 Bessel 112042.O (Roughwood)
