Eccentrically-arranged scrapbook predominantly containing newspaper clippings, patent medicine almanac advertisements, and comic valentines. Also contains scraps, trade cards, and labels. Clippings, many published in the sensational periodicals “National Police Gazette” and “Days' Doings” primarily depict illustrations of murders and violence, crimes and punishments, human curiosities, animal attacks, human peril, women in distress, evocative theatrical performances, acts of daring, cross dressing and comic scenes in silhouette.
Block numbered in two places: 5969, block also numbered 175 in two places, now defaced., Image of an elephant carrying a small child in its trunk, in a natural setting. An adult human is chasing the elephant, and the child is reaching back towards the adult figure., Signed in reverse: Vaningen-Snyder [i.e. Van Ingen & Snyder], “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856., Illustration appears in Child's world v. 10 no. 12 p. 3.
