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- Title
- James Boyd's fine shoes. Presented by Irving J. Brown
- Description
- Trade card promoting James Boyd's shoes and depicting a racist caricature of an African American man, possibly a peddler, making a presentation on a stage. The man, portrayed with exaggerated features and manners, stands onstage behind a table leaning forward with his knuckles pressed onto the surface. He is attired in a brown suit jacket with tails; waistcoat; white shirt with a white bow tie; gold cuff links; blue pants; and black boots. In his back pocket are rolled up papers. There is a glass on the table. Beneath it is a top hat. In the foreground, four African American men in the audience listen, interact with each other, and gesture. They are attired in jackets (brown, yellow plaid, or green) and white collared shirts. The far left spectator also wears spectacles. The far right spectator raises his hand as if to ask a question. In the background, some brick is exposed through the painted wall, and a white sign is hung advertising "James Boyd's Fine Shoes." James Boyd started manufacturing shoes as Barrow & Boyd in New York in 1866. Barrow retired in 1877. James Boyd continued the business, and in 1884, he added his sons George and William to the firm becoming James Boyd & Sons. Irving J. Brown began selling shoes in 1877. He had stores at 461 and 944 Congress Street, Portland, Maine until at least 1891., Title from item., Date deduced from the history of the advertised business., Advertising text printed on verso: [I]r[vin]g J. Brown. ([?] of the gold boot.) Dealer [i]n boots and shoes, is the special agent for the sale of my goods in Portland. James Boyd, New York City. Highest medals awarded 1873, 1874, 1876, 1877. (Extract from the judges report.) Forty-second exhibition American Institute. "Case no. 49, made by James Boyd, are perfectly put together. We have seen all the shoes made in New York for the past twenty years, and this is the Best [?] in our judgment. The uppers are beautifully [?], and deserve great credit and reward." Elisha Hanshew, E.W. Eaton, C.J. Murray } Judges. [New Yo]rk, Nov. 1873., Gift of David Doret.
- Date
- [ca. 1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Boyd [P.2017.95.16]
- Title
- Edwin C. Burt, fine shoes
- Description
- Trade card promoting shoemaker Edwin C. Burt and depicting a racist caricature of an African American man minstrel. The man is attired in a uniform-like costume of a black top hat with a gold band; a blue jacket with gold buttons and epaulettes and a black belt; white pants; white gloves; and black knee-length boots. He pulls on a red cord for a curtain with his right hand. He carries a white card that reads, "Edwin C. Burt, Fine Shoes" in his left hand. Edwin C. Burt (1818-1884) began his career in boot and shoemaking with his father in Hartford, Connecticut in 1838. He moved his business to New York City in 1848 and founded Edwin C. Burt & Co. in 1860. He patented an improvement to increase his shoes’ durability in 1874., Title from item., Publication information from verso: The Major & Knapp Eng Mfg Litho Co 56 Park Place, N.Y., Advertising text printed on verso: Please notice: Genuine goods of Edwin C. Burt’s make have his Name stamped in full on Lining and Sole of Each Shoe and are warranted. Burt’s calendar for 1878. Edwin C. Burt [illegible]. Over., Text printed on verso: Calendar for 1878., Distributor's imprint printed on verso: Henry H. Tuttle & Co., 435 Washington Street, (cor, Winter,) Boston, have a full line in all widths of my Goods for sale., Gift of David Doret.
- Date
- [ca. 1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Henry [P.2017.95.80]
- Title
- [Edwin C. Burt trade cards]
- Description
- Series of illustrated trade cards depicting three chicks near a recently hatched egg and a boy lying belly down in the grass holding dandelion fluff in his right hand with flowers, a bird, and a bee surrounding him. Officially founded in 1860, Edwin C. Burt & Co. assigned its liabilities over to Thomas Cunningham in 1898., Contains advertising text printed on versos for shoe stores selling Edwin C. Burt & Co. products. Both contain the same "Caution" note: Please notice, genuine goods of Edwin C. Burt's make have his name stamped in full on lining and sole of each shoe, and are warranted. One print [1975.F.51] contains an imprint for John Parker, Jr. & Co. ladies' fine shoes, 20 South 8th Street and a calendar for 1881. The other print [P.9828.653a] contains an imprint for Baldwin, dealer in boots and shoes, Nos. 228 and 230 Northampton Street, Easton, Pa. and a vignette of various medals awarded to Edwin C. Burt, ranging from 1867 to 1878., Manuscript note on verso of one print [P.9828.653a]: Irene M. Hunt., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., One print [P.9828.653a] gift of William Helfand., Digitized.
- Date
- [ca. 1881]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department trade card - Burt [1975.F.51; P.9828.653a]
- Title
- Edwin C. Burt, fine shoes. Presented by Chas. T. Croft, Little Falls, N.Y
- Description
- Trade card promoting shoemaker Edwin C. Burt and depicting a racist, whimsical scene of two African American boys carrying a white girl in a “sedan chair” in the shape of a shoe. In the left, a boy attired in red, sarong-like shorts holds the red, back handles of the sedan over his shoulders. In the right, a boy attired in yellow, sarong-like shorts with black stripes holds the red, front handles over his shoulders. The girl sits with her legs stretched out. She is attired in a red headband that wraps around her brown hair styled in a bun; a yellow, short-sleeved dress with a white collar and blue stripes at the sleeves and around the bottom; and a gold bracelet. She holds a matching yellow and blue fan, possibly of peacock feathers. The sedan chair is depicted as a black woman's dress shoe with a heel and is adorned with a red bow at the front with a gold and diamond circular embellishment. A red canopy with green fringe trim attached to the back of the shoe shields the girl. In the background, mountains and a pink sky are visible. Edwin C. Burt (1818-1884) began his career in boot and shoemaking with his father in Hartford, Connecticut in 1838. He moved his business to New York City in 1848 and founded Edwin C. Burt & Co. in 1860. He patented an improvement to increase his shoes' durability in 1874., Title from item., Place of publication deduced from place of operation of advertised business., Date deduced from history of the advertised business., Text on the recto: Over., Advertising text printed on verso: Chas. T Croft, dealer in boots, shoes and rubbers, Little Fall, N.Y. Has a choice line of Burt's goods, manufactured expressively for him by Edwin C. Burt, New York. Caution: the genuine Burt shoe has the name Edwin C. Burt stamped in full on the lining and sole of e[ach] shoe, and are warranted. Over., Contains Edwin C. Burt trademark on verso depicting an ornament composed of an illustration of a circle of exposition seals where Burt had won awards, including the 1876 Centennial in Philadelphia., Gift of David Doret., Library Company holds a duplicate copy with a variant verso [P.2017.95.20].
- Date
- [ca. 1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Burt [P.2017.95.19]
- Title
- Edwin C. Burt, fine shoes
- Description
- Trade card promoting shoemaker Edwin C. Burt and depicting a racist, whimsical scene of two African American boys carrying a white girl in a “sedan chair” in the shape of a shoe. In the left, a boy attired in red, sarong-like shorts holds the red, back handles of the sedan over his shoulders. In the right, a boy attired in yellow, sarong-like shorts with black stripes holds the red, front handles over his shoulders. The girl sits with her legs stretched out. She is attired in a red headband that wraps around her brown hair styled in a bun; a yellow, short-sleeved dress with a white collar and blue stripes at the sleeves and around the bottom; and a gold bracelet. She holds a matching yellow and blue fan, possibly of peacock feathers. The sedan chair is depicted as a black woman's dress shoe with a heel and is adorned with a red bow at the front with a gold and diamond circular embellishment. A red canopy with green fringe trim attached to the back of the shoe shields the girl. In the background, mountains and a pink sky are visible. Edwin C. Burt (1818-1884) began his career in boot and shoemaking with his father in Hartford, Connecticut in 1838. He moved his business to New York City in 1848 and founded Edwin C. Burt & Co. in 1860. He patented an improvement to increase his shoes' durability in 1874., Title from item., Place of publication deduced from place of operation of advertised business., Date deduced from history of the advertised business., Text on the recto: Over., Advertising text on verso: Caution to the public. Ladies', misses' and children's genuine Burt's shoe has the name stamped in full on the lining of each shoe, thus: Edwin C. Burt Maker New York. Also, on the bottom of each shoe, thus: Edwin C. Burt New York. And are warranted to give satisfaction. Call for them. If these goods are not to be obtained in your [?] [plea]se write us and we will advise where [?] be found. Edwin C. Burt, New York., Gift of David Doret., Library Company holds a duplicate copy with a variant verso [P.2017.95.19].
- Date
- [ca. 1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Burt [P.2017.95.20]

