Advertisement with ornate border containing a series of vignettes displaying several types of wagons, coaches, and carts produced by the manufactory. Vignettes are captioned with details of the products uses and surround a central view of the exterior of the busy "Simons, Coleman & Co. National Wagon Works" factory and office at No. 1109 North Front Street. Vignettes depict: African American plantation workers transporting sugar cane to a barge by a "cane cart"; laborers and settlers hauling materials out West by "road wagon" and "catamaran"; an ambush of U.S. Army soldiers, baggage wagon, and ambulance by Native Americans; and a busy Philadelphia port scene with a disinterested constable overseeing the wharf congested with carts and wagons as docked Henry Simons's factory ships ready for departure. Also contains an allegorical scene with a Northern factory worker and his Southern patron extending each other their hands before the shadowy figure of a factory agent; a large American eagle clutching the American flag; promotional text; and a listing of the factory's several business locations and names of agents. The city's high quality blacksmithship and large local lumber supply made Philadelphia the primary national and international manufacturer of wagons immediately following the Civil War., Title from item., Date of publication supplied by Wainwright., Accessioned 1982., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 351, Lower left corner missing., Rease, a prominent mid-19th century Philadelphia trade card lithographer known to highlight details of human interest in his advertisements, partnered with Francis Schell in the 1850s, and eventually owned his own press until around 1872.
Creator
Rease, W. H., artist
Date
[ca. 1865]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department **W174 [P.2143]
