Racist trade card promoting the Wenck Perfume Manufacturing Company and depicting a caricature of an older African American man reading a notice on a country grocery store. Shows the man with a white beard and attired in a yellow brimmed hat, a long-sleeved red shirt, red and yellow pants with patches and held up by suspenders, and black shoes. He bends forward to read the sign on the boarded up, dilapidated store. It states in the vernacular that the Johnsing & Skinner Grocery is out of business and that, “Dem as owes de firm, will settle wid me--dey de firm owes will settle wid Skinner. G.W. Johnsing." The African American man is labeled as a creditor who says in the vernacular, “I’ll hab a hundred and fifty cents on de dollar, or I’ll lick de hul firm.” In the right, the man’s donkey is tied to an orange post behind him. In the background, fenced in fields and trees are visible. George J. Wenck founded the Wenck Perfumes Manufacturing Company in 1872. The Firm manufactured perfume into the 20th century., Title from item., Place of publication deduced from place of operation of the advertised business., Date deduced from the history of the advertised business., Text printed on recto: Johnsing & Skinner Grocery. Notis—De firm of Johnsing & Skinner am resolved. Dem as owes de firm, will settle wid me—dey de firm owes will settle wid Skinner. G.W. Johnsing. Creditor of Johnsing & Skinner—“I’ll hab a hundred and fifty cents on de dollar, or I’ll lick de hul firm.”, Advertising text printed on verso: “Wenck’s” Special Perfumes for the Handkerchief. Opera bouquet. Grand Army Bouquet. Queen Mary Bouquet. “Wenck’s” Toilet Water. Florida Water. Lavender Water. Eau Oraline for the Teeth. Gilt Edge Cologne. The “Wenck” Perfumes M’f’g Co., 36 West 14th Street, N.Y., Gift of David Doret.
Date
[ca. 1890]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Wenck [P.2017.95.189]
