Object of the Day: A Trade Card for Libby's Cooked Corned Beef

Here’s another trade card from my collection which advertises for Libby’s Canned Cooked Corned Beef. This one, like the others, dates to about 1890, but it doesn’t have the Punch & Judy imagery of its brothers. This one takes the spin that canned corned beef is an elegant meal.

A well-dressed, young couple of fashion and means adorns the front. The gent—in his tall hat—presents his bride with the unusually-shaped package of potted meat. It reads:

“Oh, John, I am so glad you brought that Cooked Corned Beef. We have had Company come and I did not know what I should give them to eat.”

Well, thank God, he brought that canned corned beef. It seems the lady of the house has NOTHING…NOTHING AT ALL to feed her unexpected guests which could possibly be any better than CANNED, COOKED CORNED BEEF! Remind me not to go there. It seems they spend all their money on hats and ruffles and fashionable bric-a-brac and crooked pictures.

The potted meat concern of Libby, McNeill and Libby wants us to remember them, so, they’ve added the line at the bottom:

“Always keep on hand Libby McNeill & Libby’s Cooked Corned Beef.” 

Sure, I’ll get right on that.

Let’s look at the reverse.

It reads:

BUY THE BEST. 
Highest Centennial Award. 

We would call your attention to our Hermetically Sealed, Cooked Meats, which have given such perfect satisfaction all over the world.
OPINIONS OF EMINENT CHEMISTS 
On removing the contents of the cans **** the color and odor were so appetizing that I ar once ate from each of them. Placed in boiling water the aroma exhaled was most agreeable **** I cheerfully commend it as a wholesome article of diet. 

          R. OGDEN DOREMUS, M.D. L.L.D.
                 Professor Chemistry & Physics in the College of the City of New York 

SOUND & WHOLESOME
           S. Dana Hayes
                 State Assayer, Boston, Mass. 
I submitted the meat to a careful chemical analysis with the most satisfactory results.            JAMES R. BLANEY
                 Analytical Chemist 
                       Chicago
Color brilliant. **** aroma fresh and sweet **** wholly sound and healthful.             E.N. Horsford
                  Prof. of Chemistry, Cambridge, Mass. 
LIBBY, McNeill & Libby, Chicago