Pictorial envelope containing a vignette bird's eye view showing the plumbing fixtures manufactory at "Cor. Champlain St. & Meldrum Ave."Street and pedestrian traffic, including a streetcar are visible in the foreground. Trains and surrounding cityscape are visible in the background. Buick & Sherwood was established circa 1884 with partners D.D. Buick and William Sherwood. The firm invented several plumbing innovations by the late 1880s and in 1899 was sold to Sanitary Manufacturing Company., Title from printed return address., Addressed in type to: Messrs. J.D. Johnson & Co., Philadelphia, Pa., Date inferred from ink-stamped postmark: Detroit, MI., Aug 22, [18]95 6 PM., Contains cancelled oval two-cents stamp printed in green and containing a profile portrait of George Washington., Printed upper left corner: In 5 Days Return To., Contains on verso: ink-stamp postmark: received Philadelphia, PA, Aug 24, 1895 5AM., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of Helen Beitler and Estate of Helen Beitler.
Date
[ca. 1895]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Helen Beitler Graphic Ephemera Collection - Envelopes [P.2011.10.74]
Pictorial envelope designed by Sesqui-centennial committee members Samuel Dilbert, W. Morris Deischer and Howard L. Boas containing a menagerie of imagery bordering two vignettes. Vignettes depict a view of the Reading "Court House, 1782-1841" and a view captioned "1748" showing Native Americans near a teepee watching a traveling Conestoga wagon from across a river. Other images show a locomotive, factories, train shed, and a winged female allegorical figure holding a trumpet and bolt of lightning, probably representing progress. An anvil, gear, and angle rest at the figure's feet. Over 700, 000 envelopes were printed and distributed nationally. The sesqui-centennial celebration included band concerts; civic, firemen, and industrial parades; grand illuminations; fireworks; and an equestrian and bicycle day., Addressed in manuscript to: Ronalds & Johnson Co., 139 N. 7th St., Philadelphia, Pa., Printed in red ink on recto: Return to E. S. Summons' Plumbing & Heating Co., 209 N. 6th St., Reading, Pa., Ink-stamp postmark on verso: Received Philadelphia, PA Mar 31, 1898 6 30 PM., Publication information from Morton Luther Montgomery, History of Reading, Pennsylvania: and the anniversary proceedings of the sesquice-centennial, June 5-12, 1898 (1898)., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of Helen Beitler and Estate of Helen Beitler.
Date
[c1897]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Helen Beitler Graphic Ephemera Collection - Envelopes [P.2011.10.89]
Advertising blotter containing a caricature of "Our Commercial Traveler" (i.e., a traveling agent for wholesale merchants). Shows a gentleman sales agent caricatured with a large head, mustache, side burns, and prominent nose, attired in a suit and top hat, and carrying a valise and umbrella., Manuscript note on recto: Property of Jho. Shower, Orwigsburg, Pa., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of Helen Beitler and Estate of Helen Beitler.
Date
[ca. 1890]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Helen Beitler Graphic Ephemera Collection - Trade cards & Blotters [P.2011.10.3]
