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Title: Sapolio
Description: Racist trade card promoting soap manufacturer Enoch Morgan's Sons Company and depicting the caricature of an African American child’s head emerging out of a watermelon. The child, portrayed with exaggerated features, smiles as their eyes look to the right. The green watermelon is ripped open revealing pink flesh and black seeds. Enoch Morgan's Sons Company began manufacturing Sapolio soap in 1869 in New York. Peruvian company Intradevco Industrial SA purchased Sapolio in 1997., Title from item., Publication information from copyright statement: Copyrighted 1882, by Donaldson Brothers., Advertising text printed on verso: One cake will do more work and will do it better than Three Cakes of any other mineral or scouring soap ever made. Enoch Morgan's Sons Sapolio. Better and cheaper than soap. For all house cleaning purposes. It will clean paint, marble, oil cloths, bath tubs, crockery, kitchen utensils, &c. It will polish tin, brass, copper and steel wares of all kinds better than Emery or Rotten Stone. Ask for it. Take no other as a substitute for it. It is the best and cheapest scouring soap. Hand Sapolio, for every day use, is the best and cheapest toilet and bath soap in the market. Removes stains of all kinds, and leaves the skin white and soft. Prevents chapping of hands. Illustration of a white man looking at the bottom of a pan that reflects his face as a mirror., Gift of David Doret.
Date: 1882
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Enoch [P.2017.95.60]

Title: Monday. Monday is de wash day, an I neber sulk or mope, becase de close am nice and clean, by using Higgins' soap
Description: Racist trade card promoting Higgins' soap and depicting a caricature of an African American woman domestic carrying a bar of soap and a wash tub. The woman is portrayed with exaggerated features and speaks in the vernacular. Shows the African American woman with her hair in pigtail braids tied at the ends in white bows, attired in an orange and yellow striped head kerchief, a red and white shawl, a blue dress with black stripes, a white apron with red stripes, orange and white striped stockings, and black shoes. She carries a large, wooden wash tub in her right hand and a yellow bar of soap labeled “Higgin” in her left hand. The woman smiles and walks toward the viewer and says, “Monday is de wash day, an I neber sulk or mope, becase de close am nice and clean, by using Higgins' soap.” In the right, a white shirt hangs on a clothes line pinned with wooden clothespins. The Charles S. Higgins Company, established by Higgins’s father W. B. Higgins in Brooklyn in 1846, manufactured "German Laundry soap" beginning around 1860, when Charles assumed the business. The laundry soap was packaged in a wrapper illustrated with an African American woman washing in a tub. By the early 1890s, Charles S. Higgins left the firm still operated under his name and formed Higgins Soap Company. Court proceedings over trademarks and tradenames ensued and Higgins Soap Company became insolvent by the mid 1890s., Title from item., Date deduced from history of the advertised business., Gift of David Doret.
Date: [ca. 1880]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Higgins' [P.2017.95.82]

Title: Enoch Morgan's Sons Sapolio
Description: Racist trade card promoting soap manufacturer Enoch Morgan's Sons Company and depicting African American women domestics cleaning a parlor. Shows an African American woman, attired in a head kerchief; hoop earrings; a polka dotted dress with the sleeves rolled up to her upper arms; and black shoes, on her hands and knees cleaning a floor with a brush in her right hand. There is a wooden bucket beside the woman. In the right, another African American woman, attired in a short-sleeved dress with a bustle and checked skirt, stands cleaning the molding of a doorway with a cloth. In the background is a lit fireplace and mantle with vases on top of it. Enoch Morgan's Sons Company began manufacturing Sapolio soap in 1869 in New York. Peruvian company Intradevco Industrial SA purchased Sapolio in 1997., Title from item., Date deduced from history of the advertised business., Distributor's imprint stamped on recto: Tom S. Culver, Dealer in surplus [?] teas, coffees, [?] and flour. Canned, dried, and [?] vegetables, etc. Choice brands of [?] tobacco. A fine [?] Ithaca, N.Y., Advertising text printed on verso: There is no one article known that will do so many kinds of work in and about the house and do it so well as Enoch Morgan's Sons Sapolio. (Each cake is wrapped in tin foil, and surrounded with Ultramarine Blue Band, and bears the above device.) Always note this. A cake of Sapolio, a bowl of water and a brush, cloth or sponge will make House Cleaning an easy and quick job--Will clean paint and all painted surfaces-- Will clean marble, mantels, tables and statuary-- Will clean oil-cloths, floors, shelves, &c. -- Will clean bath tubs, wash-basins, &c. -- Will clean crockery, glassware, &c. -- Will clean kitchen utensils, of all kinds--Will clean windows without splashing of water -- Will polish tin, brass, and copperwares-- Will polish knives as you wash them-- Will polish all metal surfaces and Will clean all household articles -- and is better and cheaper than soap, emery, rotten stone, &c. Price 10 c. per cake. Illustration of a white man looking at the bottom of a pan that reflects his face as a mirror., Gift of David Doret.
Date: [ca. 1890]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Enoch [P.2017.95.59]

Title: Tuesday. Yes my heart is light, for de close iron white, and dat is jist what tickles me, for without Higgins' soap, you have'nt any hope, so please to take pattern by me
Description: Racist trade card promoting Higgins’ soap and depicting a caricature of an African American woman domestic ironing a white sheet. The woman is portrayed with exaggerated features and speaks in the vernacular. Shows the African American woman with her hair in pigtail braids tied at the ends in white bows, attired in an orange and yellow striped head kerchief, a red and white shawl, a blue dress with black stripes, a white apron with red stripes, orange and white striped stockings, and black shoes. She stands behind an ironing board and holds a white sheet in her left hand and an iron in her right hand. The ironing board sits on top of a wooden stool and a red and yellow box labeled “Higgins’ German Laundry Soap.” The woman smiles at the viewer and says, “Yes my heart is light, for de close iron white, and dat is jist what tickles me, for without Higgins' soap, you have'nt any hope, so please to take pattern by me.” In the background is a white sheet hanging over a wooden board. The Charles S. Higgins Company, established by Higgins’s father W. B. Higgins in Brooklyn in 1846, manufactured "German Laundry soap" beginning around 1860, when Charles assumed the business. The laundry soap was packaged in a wrapper illustrated with an African American woman washing in a tub. By the early 1890s, Charles S. Higgins left the firm still operated under his name and formed Higgins Soap Company. Court proceedings over trademarks and tradenames ensued and Higgins Soap Company became insolvent by the mid 1890s., Title from item., Date deduced from history of the advertised business., Gift of David Doret.
Date: [ca. 1880]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Higgins' [P.2017.95.83]

Title: Friday. Use Higgins' soap in de mornin, a washin of de winder, for wif good soap and a merry heart, dar's nothin for to hinder
Description: Racist trade card promoting Higgins' soap and depicting a caricature of an African American woman domestic washing a window. The woman is portrayed with exaggerated features and speaks in the vernacular. Shows the African American woman with her hair in pigtail braids tied at the ends in white bows, attired in an orange and yellow striped head kerchief; a red and white shawl; a blue, short-sleeved shirt with black stripes; an orange and yellow checked skirt; yellow, red, and white striped stockings; and black shoes. The woman sits on the window ledge with her legs crossed at the ankles. Her upper body is outside of the house as she washes the exterior of the window with a white cloth. The woman smiles at the viewer and says, “Use Higgins' soap in de mornin, a washin of de winder, for wif good soap and a merry heart, dar's nothin for to hinder.” In the right is a wooden bucket with a bar of soap labeled, “Higgins Soap,” on top of a wooden stool. The Charles S. Higgins Company, established by Higgins’s father W. B. Higgins in Brooklyn in 1846, manufactured "German Laundry soap" beginning around 1860, when Charles assumed the business. The laundry soap was packaged in a wrapper illustrated with an African American woman washing in a tub. By the early 1890s, Charles S. Higgins left the firm still operated under his name and formed Higgins Soap Company. Court proceedings over trademarks and tradenames ensued and Higgins Soap Company became insolvent by the mid 1890s., Title from item., Date deduced from history of the advertised business., Gift of David Doret.
Date: [ca. 1880]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Higgins' [P.2017.95.84]

Title: Sunday. Yer looks lubly Ephraim, and it all comes using dat Higgins soap
Description: Racist trade card promoting Higgins' soap and depicting a caricature of an African American family getting ready for church. The family is portrayed with exaggerated features and speak in the vernacular. In the center, the husband/father stands smiling attired in a white ruffled shirt, a red and white bow tie, a yellow waistcoat, a long black jacket, red and white checked pants, black shoes, and white gloves. The wife/mother, attired in a bonnet decorated with a blue bow and flowers, a red shawl, a blue dress with black stripes, a yellow bow tie, and black shoes, smiles as she adjusts the bowtie on her husband and says, “yer looks lubly Ephraim, and it all comes using dat Higgins soap.” Their son, attired in a yellow hat with a black band, a red shirt with a white lace collar, green pants, red socks, and black shoes, looks up at the couple carrying a red book in his left hand. In the left, behind the couple, are two more children. The girl in the left is attired in a white head kerchief, a yellow shirt with orange stripes, a white skirt, red stockings, and black shoes. The boy in the right is attired in a blue cap, a blue shirt with a white collar, blue pants, red and white striped socks, and black shoes. A print depicting a red building and two people is pasted on the wall in the right background. The Charles S. Higgins Company, established by Higgins’s father W. B. Higgins in Brooklyn in 1846, manufactured "German Laundry soap" beginning around 1860, when Charles assumed the business. The laundry soap was packaged in a wrapper illustrated with an African American woman washing in a tub. By the early 1890s, Charles S. Higgins left the firm still operated under his name and formed Higgins Soap Company. Court proceedings over trademarks and tradenames ensued and Higgins Soap Company became insolvent by the mid 1890s., Title from item., Place of publication inferred from place of operation of advertised business., Date deduced from history of the advertised business., Gift of David Doret.
Date: [ca. 1880]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Higgins' [P.2017.95.81]

Title: Saturday. Whoa! Dar Sambo! What do yer mean, what makes yer jump and shout? I will wash yer clean with Higgins' soap, and then yer may jump out
Description: Racist trade card promoting Higgins' soap and depicting a caricature of an African American woman bathing her child in a wash tub. Shows the African American woman portrayed with exaggerated features with her hair in pigtail braids tied at the ends in white bows, attired in an orange and yellow striped head kerchief; a red and white shawl; and a blue, short-sleeved dress. The mother kneels on the floor as she bathes her young son in a washtub. She smiles, rubbing a wash cloth on the boy with her right hand. The naked boy stands in the tub with his left leg raised. She says in the vernacular, “Whoa! Dar Sambo! What do yer mean, what makes yer jump and shout? I will wash yer clean with Higgins' soap, and then yer may jump out.” Behind the tub, in the left, a girl, attired in a black-striped, red nightgown, and a boy, attired in an orange nightgown, watch the scene. In the right, another boy in an orange nightgown looks on. A white towel with two red stripes and decorative fringe is draped over the side of the wash tub. In the right background, a white sheet hangs on a clothesline. Charles S. Higgins Company, established by Higgins’s father W. B. Higgins in Brooklyn in 1846, manufactured "German Laundry soap" beginning around 1860, when Charles assumed the business. The laundry soap was packaged in a wrapper illustrated with an African American woman washing in a tub. By the early 1890s, Charles S. Higgins left the firm still operated under his name and formed Higgins Soap Company. Court proceedings over trademarks and tradenames ensued and Higgins Soap Company became insolvent by the mid 1890s., Title from item., Date deduced from history of the advertised business., Gift of David Doret.
Date: [ca. 1880]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Higgins' [P.2017.95.85]

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