Monday, April 16, 2012

Object of the Day: An Antique "Dining Room" Trade Card





Here’s another trade card from my growing collection of ephemera.  This one is unusual in that it’s much smaller than most and it also advertises a specific restaurant as opposed to a brand.  It’s awfully cute.  Don’t you think?

On the obverse we see the typical Victorian image of a child.  This little lad is dressed in a red jacket over an apron.  Clearly, he’s meant to represent a little baker delivering a basket of bread.  He looks a wee bit concerned about it for some reason.

The card advertises:

COSMOPOLITAN 
DINING ROOMS,

For Ladies’ & Gent’s (weird apostrophe use and all)
700 Washington & 8 Kneeland St.
BOSTON      Over.

The reverse is slightly damaged.  However, it does show the establishment’s menu which is pretty interesting.  I’m going to try to reproduce it for you as best I can.  Lines indicate where I can’t make out the text.  I wonder what “Min…  Fish” is.


BILL OF FARE
------------------
Boston’s Best Cup of Coffee with
Cream,                                                  5 (cents)
_____ and a Large Bowl of Milk    10
Bakes Beans with Bread and Butter,
Tea or Coffee                                     10
Hash and Meat    “   “    “    “            10
Fish Balls              “   “     “    “           10
Min__  Fish         “   “     “    “           10
Stews and Chowders                        15
Full Dinner                                         15
_______ak                                       15
Roast Beef                                          15
Oyster Stew                                       20

Pastries, all kinds.  Home Made
Pies 5 Cents
______gs, 5c.  A plate of Doughnuts
With Cheese, 5 Cents

K. BROOKS, Prop’r.
Tickets Sold at a Discount






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