 |
| Click image to enlarge. |
I actually really like this card. When I was sorting through a lot of antique ephemera which I just purchased, this one immediately caught my eye. The colors are perfect examples of the popular chromolithograph palette of the 1880s and the gold on black architecture of the “frame” is indicative of the type of images which were favored. It’s just a nifty little package.
But…
Well, what’s with the guy? I understand, and am, truly, an aficionado of, the grotesque caricature style which was the hallmark of Victorian comic drawings. So, on one hand, this fella with his large head and spindly body is entirely appropriate for his purpose. But…
Why is he so sweaty? What’s his problem? I imagine he’s worn out from wearing a sandwich board. But, has it made him apoplectic?
Now, I understand that this is a “stock card” which was selected from a catalog and, then, later, printed with the advertiser’s information, but, the image doesn’t have anything to do with what’s being sold.
It reads:
Have you been to
Helmbold’s
830
Chestnut St.?
He has a beauti-
ful display of the
most recent im-
portation of
holiday
GOODS,
which he offers
at greatly
Reduced Rates.
Be sure to go and
examine his
stock.
And, then, he’ll sweat on you and presumably make little moaning noises through his nose.
If this little guy could talk, what would he tell you?
Let’s have a caption contest. You know how it works—use the comments page. And, go…
17 comments:
Have you been to Hembold's?
It's a little like shopping in hell.
Built in a swamp over a steaming sulfur pit, Hembold's is truly a shopping experience.
B.L. Zebub, Manager.
Science tells us that having a head that is over 1/3 your body size can cause excessive perspiration. Come to Hembold's for our two for one head shrinking special
I'll be right there.
I hope it's a plastic surgeon.
Not in 1890 you don't.
I dated him in the 70s.
This fellow is having cold sweats knowing that he's the direct descendent of the Mad Hatter and that he's to be the Great-grandfather of Mick Jagger. He carries a sandwich board during one of his brief periods of release from Colney Hatch.
That sums it up quite neatly and explains quite a lot.
It's probably an ad fir laxatives.
Fir laxatives are painful, Matt. Pinecones....
He's sweating because he's just finished a steaming bowl of oatmeal that was brought to him by Wilford Brimley on his flying glittery unicorn. It's the only refreshment allowed in hell...Shop at Hembold's!
Doh! That would hurt.
Doh indeed.
I often have that expression.
We blame your mother-in-law.
He's having a hot flash.
Post a Comment