Illustrated trade card depicting an elephant on recto and verso. James S. Kirk & Co., the manufacturers of Kirk's blue India soap, relocated to Chicago, Illinois from Utica, New York in 1859., Trimmed down to shape of elephant and grass., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of Helen Beitler., Digitized.
Date
[ca. 1880]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department trade card - Kirk's [P.9993.1]
Racist trade card promoting Hartford Chemical Works, manufacturers of Lavine Soap, and depicting a scene showing African men in a three-way race. In the center, a man with a white beard, attired in a red-striped turban and robe, smokes a pipe while riding an elephant in full stride and strapped with two large boxes labeled, "Lavine Soap Washing Hartford." To the right front of the elephant, another man, bare chested and attired in a red loincloth, runs slightly ahead of the animal. In the distant right of the image, a third man attired in a red turban, cloak, and yellow shorts races on horseback near a temple. Palm trees are also visible in the background. In the lower right are two, stacked boxes labeled, "Lavine, Hartford Chemical Works 30 Union Place. Try Lavine for Washing." Hartford Chemical Works, located in Hartford, Connecticut, was established in 1879 by Albert B. Gillett. Gillett patented Lavine Soap in 1882. The company operated until at least 1889., Title from item., Place of publication deduced from place of operation of advertised business., Advertising text printed on verso: Lavine for washing. The best and cheapest article ever offered to the housekeeper. Ask your grocer for it and take no other. It has taken the highest awards at the American Institute Fairs, in October, 1880 and 1881 as well as the first premium at every state and county fair where exhibited. Do not pay 15 cents a pound for a washing compound, when you can buy a better one for 13 cents. Make sure that your grocer gives you Lavine. It makes the hardest water soft and will not injure the finest clothes. It does not burn the hands nor chap them in winter. Try it for washing your marble steps, floors, sinks milk pans or anything which may need washing., Distributor’s name on verso: Geo. S. Adams, Manufacturer's Agent, No. 117 North Second Street, Philadelphia., Gift of David Doret.
Date
[ca. 1880]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Adams [P.2017.95.2]
Advertisement calendar for the year 1870 containing a whimsical tromp l'oeil design composed of ornate carpets and rugs. Rolled and partially rolled carpets surround the calendar and advertising text. Two rugs adorn the lower corners. Patterns and scenes decorating the floor coverings include flowers, cherubs, vinery, geometric shapes and scenes showing a hunted elephant and a lounging dog. Pray, Sons & Co. was established in 1817., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Date
[ca. 1869]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department albums - Specimens Album [P.9349.96]
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.
Block numbered in three places: 105., Image of a standing elephant, holding a branch in its trunk, in a natural setting., Illustration appears in The Show of animals (Philadelphia, between 1832 and 1860?), p. 14. The Show of animals was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from May 1832 to July 1860., Illustration also appears in The Book of one hundred pictures (Philadelphia, between 1861 and 1907?), p. 92., , Provenance:, , Variant:
Block numbered in two places: 3352, also 781 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of two men wearing turbans on an elephant stabbing a jumping tiger; one sits astride the elephant facing forward and the other sits sideways in the other direction, turning his torso to fight off the tiger.
Block numbered in two places: 4367., Image of an elephant with a pavilion on its back being attacked by a tiger, in a natural setting. With incised space for large initial letter., Illustration appears in Youth's penny gazette, vol. 13, no. 16, (August 1, 1855), p. 64.
Block numbered in two places: 7797., Image of an elephant standing in a natural setting., Signed: Seymour., Illustration appears in Child's world, v. 33, no. 3 (Feb., 1876?), p. 2.
Block numbered in at least one place: 3381., Image of an elephant in a natural setting., Tape (inscribed “525”) removed from obverse, June 2011., Illustration appears in Four Seasons, Child's home library series no. 10 (Philadelphia, between 1857 and 1870?), p. 13.
