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Title: A Swan.
Description: A ice skating woman with her legs turned in flails her arms to regain her balance. Her skirt billows up to reveal her legs. The border features a woman embracing a man; the pair resemble Commedia dell'arte characters. At the bottom is a pack of matches marked "Lucifer's matches.", Text: Though puggy of nose and void of grace, / Lanky of limb -- in feature wan; / The thought with each must have a place, / That something you are like the swan. / Ask not of me the reason why, / 'Tis breathed upon the chilly wind; / 'Tis echo'd by the skater's cry, / "A Swan! see, down on her behind!", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
Date: [between 1840 and 1880?]

Title: Near a fire. An awkward attachment
Description: One of a series of satires mocking the ineptitude of Philadelphia volunteer firefighters. Shows the volunteer in full uniform catching a male pedestrian in the hook of his ladder as he rushes past the gentleman on the sidewalk. The man shirks backward, his hat falling off, as the hook tugs at his coat collar. Streetscape, including the storefront of a stove business, is visible in the background. Also shows a fire hose sprung with leaks laying in the street., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 253b, Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Harrison & Weightman was a partnership between Henry G. Harrison and William N. Weightman., Free Library of Philadelphia: Philadelphiana - The Fireman (Cartoons)
Date: c1858
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *BW - Fires and Firefighting [P.8970.9]

Title: Runn ing to a fire. A colision [sic]
Description: One of a series of satires mocking the ineptitude of Philadelphia volunteer firefighters. Shows the rushing volunteer jostling the stand of a female fruit peddler at a street corner. She looks in annoyance over her tipped fruit baskets and spilt bottle of refreshment as the firefighter rushes past, blowing the rallying trumpet call. Storefronts, including a drugstore, and a street lamp are visible in the background., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 253a, Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Harrison & Weightman was a partnership between Henry G. Harrison and William N. Weightman., Free Library of Philadelphia: Philadelphiana - The Fireman (Cartoons)
Date: c1858
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *BW - Fires and Fire Fighting [P.8970.10]

Title: Bloch. Bros. West Virgina mail pouch tobacco I tell you breddern, it pays you to read erbout W.V.A Mail Pouch terbacker on de oder side dis yer card
Description: Trade card promoting the Bloch Brothers' chewing tobacco. Depicts a racist caricature of an older African American man tobacco peddler portrayed with exaggerated features and selling his product in a clumsy manner on a stage. He looks flabbergasted, stands behind a small table with two leaves drawn open, and holds a green umbrella over his head with his right hand. He holds the top of the table with his other hand while a pitcher, cup of water, and a lit candle in a candlestick fall off of the table or fly in the air. An illustrated package of "Bloch Brothers' Mail Pouch Tobacco" falls toward the audience. On the stagefloor in front of the table is a brown bottle with a lit candle, a hurricane lantern, a candle in a candlestick, and a brimmed hat. Behind the salesman in the right is an open bag with a boot and clothes spilling out. A clock hangs on the back wall. In the foreground, the backs of four men’s heads in the audience are visible. The white-haired salesman is attired in a red, plaid suit; a red tie waving in the air; white collared shirt; black boots; and spectacles. Brothers Aaron and Samuel Bloch founded the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1879 by manufacturing cigars. They created Mail Pouch chewing tobacco by flavoring and packaging leftover cigar clippings. Bloch Brothers was sold in 1969 to the General Cigar and Tobacco Company, which became a division of Culbro in 1978. The Company was acquired by the Helme Tobacco Company in 1983 and later changed its name to Swisher International. Swisher continues to produce Mail Pouch tobacco into the 21st century., Title from item., Date inferred from the history of the advertised business and the attire of figures depicted., Distributor's imprint stamped on verso: Jacob G. Shirk, 886 N. Christian St., Lancaster, PA., Stamp partially visible on recto: Note: [?] Jacob Shirk, [308?] N. Christian Street., Advertising text printed on verso: To consumers of smoking and chewing tobacco: There has for years been a demand for a superior smoking tobacco, something cheap and meritorious, reverse from most brands, which are only manufactured for the profits derived by the manufacturer and the dealer, with no satisfaction to the consumer. It is a reform in Tobaccos, no stems to smoke nor mysterious compounds to chew. The qualities that recommend "Mail Pouch" Tobacco strongest as an article of merit, are:-- 1st. That it is a combination of Long Cut manipulated Virginia, Kentucky, Connecticut and Pennsylvania Leaf, by our own and original process, which makes it a cool smoke and a lasting chew. 2nd. In cheap tobaccos the smoker has been so long dosed with doctored, perfumed stuff, flattened stems mixed in with common Tobacco, to get something free from noxious flavorings and adulterations, is a result that must be appreciated. 3d. We claim that it is, without exception, the best and cheapest Tobacco ever offered to the consumer. The popularity of the W. Va. Mail Pouch Smoking and Chewing Tobacco is sufficient recommendation. It has attained its success and demand on its merits and sterling worth, it therefore has many imitators, but no equal. Bloch Bros., M'f'rs, Wheeling, W.Va., Gift of David Doret.
Date: [ca. 1880]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Bloch [P.2017.95.15]

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