Trade card promoting Clark Thread Company and depicting a racist caricature of an African American boy fishing with Clark thread. The boy is portrayed with exaggerated facial features and expressions. Shows the boy seated and with his legs straddling a giant spool of thread labeled, "Clark's trademark O.N.T. spool cotton" at the edge of a river. The boy holds a fishing rod across his chest and attempts to break the cotton thread, which he is using as fishing line. He looks at the viewer and says in the vernacular "I reckon dis yere's strong 'nuff suah." He is barefoot and attired in blue pants with red patches at the knees; an orange shirt with ragged sleeves; a green vest; and a brown cap. In the right on the ground at his feet is an orange-labeled canister from which worms escape. In the background is tall grass and the multi-colored horizon. In the foreground, the edge of the spool, the canister, and end of the rod are reflected in the water. The George A. Clark & Brother Company, manufactory of embroidery and sewing thread, was founded in 1863 in Newark, N.J. The firm was renamed Clark & Co. in 1879, and in the 1880s created a six-cord, soft finished thread called "Our New Thread" or "O.N.T." The business merged with J. & P. Coats in 1896, which lead to a series of mergers with fourteen other companies. Into the 21st century, the company continues to manufacture thread under the name Coats & Clark., Title from item., Place of publication deduced from place of operation of advertised business., Date deduced from history of advertised business., Text printed on recto: "I reckon dis yere's strong 'nuff suah.", Advertising text printed on verso: Clark's O.N.T. spool cotton. In white, fast black, and bright colors. Sold everywhere., Distributor's imprint printed on verso: George A. Clark, sole agent., Gift of David Doret.
Date
[ca. 1880]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Clark [P.2017.95.30]
