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Title: I'm yo' valentine chile!
Description: Die cut Valentine card depicting a racist caricature of an African American woman carrying a basket of eggs. Shows the barefooted African American woman portrayed with exaggerated features and attired in a blue bonnet with white polka dots, a blue plaid shirt, a white apron, and a blue and white striped skirt. She smiles at the viewer and speaks in the vernacular, “I’m yo Valentine chile,” as she holds a basket full of eggs in both of her hands., Title from item., Date deduced from the visual content., Gift of David Doret and Linda G. Mitchell.
Date: [ca. 1890]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Greeting Cards, etc. - I'm yo' [P.2017.95.247]

Title: [African American man with a basket of produce and carrying a dead duck]
Description: Racist, trade card specimen depicting a caricature of an older African American man, possibly a peddler, carrying a dead duck and a basket of produce. The man is balding and has tufts of white hair on the sides of his head and is attired in plaid pants, a collared shirt, a collared jacket, and a plaid scarf tied around his neck. He holds a dead duck by the legs in his left hand. Around his left shoulder, he carries a straw handled basket, which has the leaves of a vegetable sticking out of it. Behind him in the background is a shelf that has a bottle and a glass on it., Title supplied by cataloger., Date deduced from the visual content., Printed in red ink., Gift of David Doret.
Date: [ca. 1880]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Misc. 25 [P.2017.95.236]

Title: Mirth! music! originality! The success of the season! "Jollities"
Description: Racist trade card promoting “The Electrical Doll” play at the Gaiety Theatre in Boston. Depicts a caricature of an older African American man, possibly a peddler, carrying a dead duck and a basket of produce. The man is balding and has tufts of white hair on the sides of his head and is attired in plaid pants, a collared shirt, a collared jacket, and a plaid scarf tied around his neck. He holds a dead duck by the legs in his left hand. Around his left shoulder, he carries a straw handled basket, which has the leaves of a vegetable sticking out of it. Behind him in the background is a shelf that has a bottle and a glass on it. The Gaiety Theatre in Boston was located on Washington Street between West and Avery Streets. The 800-seat theater operated from 1878 to 1882 when it became the Bijou Theatre. Charles Atkinson with his Jollities theatre troupe produced comedic plays, including “The Electrical Doll,” which was written by Clinton G. Parrefield with music by J. Adalim. It first appeared in December, 1879 and ran for a number of years in America and Europe., Title from item., Publication information and date inferred from the content., Text printed on the recto: (Over.), Advertising text printed on the verso: Boston Press Notes. [Boston Herald, Dec. 14.]“Standing room only.” and precious little of that, was what late comers at the Gaiety Theatre found last evening. One of the largest audiences ever gathered in this cosy little house extended to the ‘Jollities’ Combination such a welcome as to dispel all doubts, if, indeed, any existed, that the levees to be given during the present week by “The Electrical Doll” will be little short of a perfect ovation.” [Boston Post, Dec. 14.] “The ‘Jollities’ presented the ‘Electrical Doll,” the funniest of all musical absurdities, before an over-flowing house last evening at the Gaiety, and gave universal satisfaction.” [Boston Globe, Dec. 14.] The Jollities. “There was not a vacant seat at the cosy Gaiety last evening. Why? Simply from the fact that Manager Gouge, who knows just what a Boston audience requires, gave one of the best performances that has graced this theatre this season. If good acting, splendid singing, bright and witty dialogue, with a capital orchestra—whose sparkling music was rendered under the baton of J.A. Norris in such an acceptable manner that encores were demanded—deserve to be called first-class, then a faint idea may be conceived of the excellencies of the Jollities Combination entertainment.”, [Boston Journal, Dec. 14.] Gaiety Theatre—“The Jollities Combination is well named, for jollier lot of performers could scarcely be brought together. At the Gaiety Theatre, last night, they appeared before a large audience in a two-act musical piece entitled ‘The Electrical Doll.” On the bills the piece is called an ‘absurdity,’ and it is deliciously absurd, yet marked by a consistency that places it as a composition for the stage very far ahead of the majority of similar productions. The Jollities deserve full houses during their stay of a week, and all who attend their clever entertainments are certain to be pleased.”, Printed with green ink., Gift of David Doret.
Date: [ca. 1880]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Gaiety [P.2017.95.67]

Title: In the land of cotton
Description: Racist trade card promoting Hart & Smith's steamboat route on the Indian River in Florida. Depicts caricatures of African Americans picking cotton on a plantation. Shows an African American man, attired in a hat, a blue collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, and blue pants, bending over and putting cotton into a large basket. To the left of the man, an African American boy, attired in an orange, short-sleeved shirt and orange pants rolled up to the knees, places cotton into the same basket. In the left, an African American woman, attired in a white headkerchief, a blue shirt and apron, and an orange skirt, bends over to pick up a basket overflowing with cotton. Behind her, an African American woman, attired in an orange dress, apron, and a blue checked shawl, stands with her right hand on her hip and her left hand balancing a large basket on top of her head. A man, attired in a white collared shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbows and blue pants, walks and steadies a basket on his left shoulder with both hands. In the center background is a large wooden structure and a person picking cotton. In the right background a man attired in a hat sits on a horse and holds his right arm out to two people, one of whom carries a basket on their left shoulder. Hubbard L. Hart (1827-1895) ran the most prominent steamboat line in Florida, helping to make it a tourist destination. In 1883, the Hart Line began a steamboat route on the Indian River. After Hart's death in 1895, his brother-in-law operated the business into the 1920s, when automobile travel rendered it obsolete., Title from item., Publication information and date from the copyright statement: Copyrighted 1882 by J.H. Bufford's Sons., Advertising text printed on verso: Hart & Smith’s Rockledge Line for Indian River. The Steamer “Astatula” leaves Sanford every Monday and Thursday at 8:30 A.M. Arrives at Lake Poinsett next day at 7 A.M. 3 miles to Rockledge by hack. Connecting with Steamer going North Tuesdays and South Fridays. Returning, leaves Poinsett at 3 PM., Tuesday & Friday, arriving at Sanford on Wednesday & Saturday morning, making connections for all points. In January the Steamer Waunita, thoroughly overhauled & furnished, will be put on the line making tri-weekly trips. Accommodations and table will be first class in all respects. Capt. Joe Smith, Manager. E.B. Van Deman, Agent at Sanford., Gift of David Doret.
Date: 1882
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Hart [P.2017.95.79]

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