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]
