Advertisement depicting William N. Lacey's and Samuel R. Phillips' busy four-story equestrian store at 12 South Fifth Street selling "ladies and gentlemen's saddles, single and double harnesses, and bridles and whips." Saddles, bridles, harnesses, and blankets are prominently displayed in the storefront window and on the building facade. On the upper floors, several white men employees work by open windows. Elegantly dressed, white men patrons converse near the entryway and four horses are lined up in the street awaiting and receiving service including a pair reined in by an African American man coach driver. Partial view of the adjacent building containing the carpenter, W.B. Morrell, is visible. Lacey and Phillips, established in 1845, remained at the site until 1854. The firm, known as the finest horse equipment makers in the world, won the first and only prize medal for harness at the World Fair in 1851 and a gold medal at the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in 1853. The South Fifth Street address was damaged by fire in 1854 and the firm relocated to larger facility at 14 and 16 South Seventh street in 1855. Lacey died in 1860 and the firm was renamed S.R. Phillips Company. Phillips Company remained in business until circa 1880., Title from item., Date from Poulson inscription on recto: Aug. 1847., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 425, Print trimmed and lacking caption., Accessioned 1982., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Rease, a prominent mid-19th century Philadelphia trade card lithographer known to highlight details of human interest in his advertisements, partnered with Francis H. Schell in the 1850s and eventually operated his own press until around 1872.
Creator
Rease, W. H., artist
Date
[August 1847]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *W215 [P.2108]
