Five Brothers plug tobacco "the best" [graphic].
Title
Five Brothers plug tobacco "the best"
Description
Racist trade card promoting tobacco manufacturer John Finzer Bros. and depicting an African American girl and a white girl looking at a newspaper together. The two girls sit side-by-side on a stone wall with their naked backsides revealed to the viewer. In the left, the blond-haired white girl is barefooted and attired in a pink hat with blue trim and a short-sleeved pink dress with white lace around the neck and sleeves. In the right, the African American girl is attired in a short-sleeved white dress with blue stripes with lace around the sleeves and gold buttons at the top of the back. Both girls' dresses are open at the back revealing their naked bottoms. They hold a newspaper titled "Tale of Two Cities." The white girl points her finger at an advertisement for "Five Brothers Plug" in the paper. In the foreground are a number of blooming white and pink flowers. In the background several trees are visible. Five Brothers Tobacco Works, later called J. Finzer Brothers Company, was established by the five Finzer brothers: John, Benjamin, Frederick, Rudolph, and Nicholas in 1866 in Louisville, Kentucky. American Tobacco Company acquired the firm in the early 20th century., Title from item., Place of publication inferred from place of operation of advertised business., Date deduced from history of the advertised business., Advertising text printed on verso: The little "Narrative" on the other side is plainly if briefly told. That "Five Brothers Plug Tobacco is the Best" is our opinion. It is certainly the best we can make by employing only the choicest selections out of the highest grade Leaf Tobacco marketed, and using in connection with the same absolutely pure ingredients to produce flavor and a palatable chew. We now want your judgment. Ask for Five Brothers Plug, and we believe you will always use it. John Finzer & Bros. maufacturers, Louisville, Kentucky., Gift of David Doret.
Date
[ca. 1880]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Five Brothers [P.2017.95.64]
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 [graphic].
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]