Advertisement for the Philadelphia branch (est. circa 1843) of the rail express service company started by Alvin Adams of Boston in 1840. Shows a line of freight cars being pulled by a fireball and lightning across train tracks on a stone culvert in a wilderness setting. The cars are marked with the city and name of its recipients, including Boston & New York, Adams & Co.; Philada. & Baltimore, Adams & Co.; Baltimore, Washington & Richmond, Rogers & Co.; Baltimore & Wheeling, Green & Co. A creek with rocky banks flows through the culvert. Also includes an American eagle standing on a rocky ledge rising about the freight cars. The express service incorporated in 1854 served as the Union Army paymaster., Not in Wainwright., Philadelphia on Stone, POSP 5, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Bb 67 A 211, Trimmed.
Creator
Weaver, Matthias S., 1815 or 16-1847, artist
Date
[ca. 1843]
Location
Historical Society of Pennsylvania HSP Bb 67 A 211
Sheet music cover containing an exterior view of the Philadelphia-branch office situated next to Carpenter's Hall court at 116, i.e., 320 Chestnut Street. Signage listing the name and services of the company, and manager Edward S. Sanford, adorns the five-story building. Shows laborers loading an "Adams & Co" horse-drawn express wagon as in the street a dog runs between it and a departing "California Express" wagon hauling crates. A man holding a valise sits on the crates. Two men, including possibly Sanford, watch the scene from the building doorway. Pedestrians bear witness from the sidewalk. Company clerks are visible in the second floor windows of the building. Also contains partial views of the neighboring storefronts, including shadowy display windows of merchandise. Shows perfumer Edward Roussel (114, i.e., 318) and Montgomery Hart & Co. paper hangings (118, i.e., 322). A bear adorns the building of Roussel. The express service company established by Alvin Adams of Boston in 1840, began a Philadelphia branch circa 1843, and was incorporated in 1854., Copyrighted by J. Paul Diver., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 10, Atwater Kent Museum: 53.32.2. Includes music., Francis Weiland was a Philadelphia music teacher.
Date
[c1852]
Location
Atwater Kent Museum | Print Department AKM AKM 53.32.2
