Ephemeral Beauty: An Odd Double-Sided Chromolithograph

Click image to enlarge.

Hmmmm…this is weird. It’s not a trade card. Its paper is thin and glossy and printed with an illustration on both sides. It’s not a scrap, certainly. It was not cut from a magazine since the odds of the image being centered in the same spot on two sides of a page are quite slim. So, what is it?

This chromolithograph depicts two scenes. One shows a well-dressed, if not wild-eyed, gent holding a package of the unfortunately named Sapolio—a brand of soap which was quite popular between 1883 and 1908. Sapolio is notable for its aggressive advertising campaigns. By 1908, they’d run out of steam with their advertising. When their interesting ads stopped, people stopped buying the product and it died (it was recently resurrected with modest success in Peru and Chile). The man in the scene has swept back a dramatic drapery to remove a life-sized statue. Is he going to clean her with his bar of soap? Has he cleaned her? Is he going to clean himself in front of her? Was she a polychrome sculpture which has been stripped of any and all pigment by being scrubbed with what I can only assume was a fairly harsh cleanser?

Let’s see what’s on the reverse. 

Click image to enlarge.

The other side shows a lad in a kilt with his mum. He’s drinking precariously from a large bottle. He’s upset a bowl and is mother is concerned by it. Or maybe she’s concerned because there’s a fox carved into her over-mantle. Maybe the kid’s a drunk and he’s fallen off the wagon. I trust he’s not drinking Sapolio. In fact, I can’t see any relationship between the two images. Yet, they’re created in the same style by, presumably, the same artist.

Could this be an ad for Sapolio? A portion of an ad? Or is it an image for something else which employed the use of the Sapolio brand since, for awhile, the name was synonymous with soap in general.

It will remain a mystery...a charming, brightly-colored mystery.

Object of the Day, Caption Contest: The Baby Sitter

Click on the image to get a closer look.

This handsome chromolithograph was never utilized. In one way, it’s a shame that it wasn’t since it’s very cute. However, the fact that it wasn’t used also increased its chances of surviving in such good condition. See the “sign” in the upper right corner? That was meant to be over-printed with a company’s information. This card was printed in bulk. Advertisers could select it from a catalog and have the already-printed stock, over-printed with their own slogan and address, etc.

I was quite happy to see this card tucked into a stack I’d bought a few weeks ago. I like dogs, as you know, and I rather find the idea of a terrier taking care of a baby to be a charming one. Of course, if I was a parent to a human child, I might feel differently about this. But, as I am only a parent to Bertie, I find it cute.

Having lived with a terrier for over a decade, I have to tell you that should I ever tie a rope to a basket containing a baby, Bertie would not conclude that it was his job to gently pull the rope to rock the baby. If instructed to do something with the rope, Bertie probably would, bit, gentle rocking would not be the result. Forceful, playful tugging on the rope would occur because, well, that’s how dogs play. Babies would be flying all over the place. But, Bertie’d like that. He likes babies. They’re soft and they taste sweet (to kiss not to eat).

Object of the Day: The Domestic Sewing Machine Co.

Click on image to see the old goat.

When I go on a goat cart ride, I always like to load up the vehicle with us much extra stuff as possible. I like to put an enormous and very stiff doll in the back. And, I like to tie a ribbon around my dog as well as the whip I use to get the goats a-goin’. Yes, I’ll put on my tam and my little pants and drive my giant sister around the countryside. You see, she can’t walk. Poor thing has unusually tiny feet for her body. She’s still strong though. Oh, yes, she can steer those goats over any terrain.

I don’t know.

This trade card is, as stated, “Compliments of the ‘Domestic’ Sewing Machine Co.” I’m not quite sure what the image has to do with sewing machines, except that you can use one to sew all the extras bows onto your little Nineteenth Century outfits.

Object of the Day: Forget Me Not

 Click on image to forget.  Or not.

Hmmm...where to begin? This isn't a trade card per se. It's not a calling card or even a visiting card. It's simply a pretty little chromolithograph printed on card stock. Now, I do believe that this could have been used as a trade card. It looks like the sort which were available for over-printing or reverse printing through catalogs. But, this just wasn't a run-of-the-mill stock card. This one is beautifully embossed. This would have made printing on the reverse rather awkward, but that never stopped them.

This was the preferred Victorian image-- Cupid or some random putto (or perhaps just a winged baby, who can tell?) surrounded by a variety of symbolic flowers (none of which, oddly enough, is a forget-me-not), sitting on a quasi-funereal plinth, wistfully carving some sweet message into a tabula rassa with one of his arrows. On the plinth below him is inscribed "Forget me Not."

Regardless if this unused card was made as a blank trade card or as a never-used affectionate greeting, it is gorgeously printed. These bright, rich colors are, to me, the epitome of Victorian printing. Furthermore, the embossing is exceptional. A chromolithograph in relief of this quality doesn't seem to be the work of late Nineteenth-Century American printers. I'd say this was European.

Gratuitous Bertie Dog Picture, Caption Contest: Pry me a River

Now, it’s time to put words in Bertie’s mouth. Instead of giving you a caption for this Gratuitous Bertie Dog Picture, let’s see what you think he’d say. 

Click image to enlarge.

Image:  Scene from Paul Pry; Scene from Mr Poole's Comedy of Paul Pry, with Portraits of madame Vestris, Miss P Glover, Mr Williams, and Mr Liston, Great Britain, UK (probably, painted), ca. 1827 (painted), George Clint, born 1770 - died 1854 (artist), Given by John Sheepshanks, 1857, to the Victoria & Albert Museum.

You, too, could have a cup of tea with Bertie. Or, you could wear his picture proudly. Visit our online store to see our range of Gratuitous Bertie Dog products.

Object of the Day, Caption Contest: A Portrait Card

Well, well, Mr. Cranky Pants, what’s on your mind? Are you sour because we don’t know who you are? You’re not Disraeli. No. You’re…well, you’re someone American. I’d have a better chance identifying you if you were British. But, I have no clue.

Why are you on a trade card, Mr. Cranky Pants? Are you trying to sell us Scrofula tonic? Do you want us to know that you make the world’s best shoes? Perhaps canned meats are your line. We’ll never know. No one ever printed the reverse of the card. It couldn’t be that you’re a stock card. No. Who would pick you? You couldn’t sell perfume? Nor could you endorse ladies’ hats and trimmings. I wouldn’t feel compelled to buy coffee from you. You make me sad, because you’re sad.

And, so, we’ll mock you.

Let’s have a caption contest for this poor, lonely, disgruntled antique lithograph.

The thunderstorm is scaring Bertie, so make your answers funny so he can be distracted. Answers in the comments section, please.

Oh...also, if you know who he is, I'd like to know, too.  

Object of the Day, Caption Contest: An Odd Portrait Scrap

Our Nineteenth Century counterparts were scissors-happy. They enjoyed cutting pictures out of publications, they enjoyed assembling pages of scraps and collecting cards. Most were creative and visual and reveled in surrounding themselves with pleasing images. In large part, that’s why I like them.

I’m not sure from where this woman came. The reverse of the page is not printed. The image has obviously been cut out from something else.

No matter…she rather looks as if she somehow liberated herself. She’s got a mischievous look on her face, and, clearly is nothing but trouble.

We’ve not had a caption contest for quite awhile. So, let’s do.

What do you think this lass is about? What’s she thinking? What would she say?

Answers in the comments, please.

Object of the Day, Caption Contest: A Snow Scene

I couldn’t even begin to guess how many hundreds of thousands of trade cards were printed in the late Nineteenth Century. As you know, some were commissioned specifically for a business while others were meant to be purchased by a business owner who would stamp or overprint them with their own information. These stock cards offered a variety of visuals, many corresponding with a specific season.

Here’s one such trade card. Obviously meant to be distributed in winter, the chromolithograph hints at a Christmas theme, but it was never printed or stamped with any business’ information. Still, someone handed it over to someone else for some reason, and thus, it’s a handsome survivor of its kind. 

So…since we have no clue who used this card and for what reason, let’s have a caption contest. Who are those three stubby little people trudging through the snow? Where are they going? What are they carrying? The snow is fresh.  After all, some of the trees are still green.  Why did the snow only cover part of the landscape?  Is it really snow?  Is it potato flakes?  

Go on, put your warped little minds to work. Answers in the comments section, please.    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Object of the Day, Caption Contest: The Red Cross Range

This poor girl. She’s blue. Literally. Despite her pretty boned, dress, elaborate coiffure and elegant pearl earrings, she’s just blue. Perhaps it’s because her whole world is blue. Literally. She’s so depressed she can barely open her eyes.

Why so sad, blue girl?

Well, perhaps it’s because she doesn’t have a Red Cross Range. Then, and only then, well…she’d be red. Or something.

The card was produced specifically for the “Co-operative Foundry Co.” of Rochester, New York.

Let’s see what the reverse says.

THE 

Red Cross Range. 

The past season’s trade only confirms the superiority 

of this Range. 

The Largest Oven in any Range! 

THE HOUSEKEEPER’S DELIGHT! 

------- 

THE NEW SPECIALTY: 

The “Red Cross” Patent Oven Rack! 

MANUFACTURED BY 

CO-OPERATIVE FOUNDRY CO. 

ROCHESTER N.Y. 

Since this young lady will never gave a Red Cross Range, and, therefore will never be able to smile, why don’t we see what she’d have to say for herself?

Let’s have a caption contest. We’ve not had one in awhile. Answers in the comments section, please.

Object of the Day, Caption Contest: The Domestic Sewing Machine Co.

Click on image to see the old goat.

When I go on a goat cart ride, I always like to load up the vehicle with us much extra stuff as possible. I like to put an enormous and very stiff doll in the back. And, I like to tie a ribbon around my dog as well as the whip I use to get the goats a-goin’. Yes, I’ll put on my tam and my little pants and drive my giant sister around the countryside. You see, she can’t walk. Poor thing has unusually tiny feet for her body. She’s still strong though. Oh, yes, she can steer those goats over any terrain.

I don’t know.

This trade card is, as stated, “Compliments of the ‘Domestic’ Sewing Machine Co.” I’m not quite sure what the image has to do with sewing machines, except that you can use one to sew all the extras bows onto your little Nineteenth Century outfits.

So, since there’s nothing on the back of this card, let’s have a caption contest, shall we. Answers in the comments section, please.

Object of the Day, Caption Contest: Cornflake S. Pecially

Click on image to go into the cornfield.

Once upon a time, this mutant came with some kind of explanation, but that’s been lost to the ages. What is he? He’s part cornstalk, part man, part cigar. He’s horrible and lovely all at once in that way that only Victorian advertising images can attain both qualities.

I’m sure that he once made some kind of sense—in a Nineteenth Century way. On the reverse, there are ragged traces—a letter here and there—that suggest that the card was printed with some justification for this regal monster. But, these cards were made to be saved in albums. Sometimes they were held in place with little paper corners. Sometimes they were glued in. This one was glued, and the back of the card was left behind when he was yanked from his album.

However, that just gives us an opportunity for a caption contest. What’s going on with this fellow? What could the product possibly be? What does he have to say? Answers in the comments section, please.

Gratuitous Bertie Dog Picture, Caption Contest: Bertie-tation

This week, let’s have you put the words in Bertie’s mouth. Put your ideas for Bertie’s caption in the comments section. 

Image: Meditation: A Lady Looking Out of a Window, Arie Johannes Lamme (1812-1900), c. 1850, Rotterdam, Holland, Joshua Dixon Bequest to The Victoria & Albert Museum. 

You, too, could have a cup of tea with Bertie. Or, you could wear his picture proudly. Visit our online store to see our range of Gratuitous Bertie Dog products.

Object of the Day, Caption Contest: Oyster Boy

Click image to get out of your shell.

I suppose this is where Victorian babies came from. No wonder they had a short shelf life overall. Seafood is very perishable.

I wish I had something intelligent to say about the late Nineteenth Century scrap. But, you know as much about it as I do. All we know is what’s visible. Naked baby coming out of an oyster shell. 

And, so, let’s have a caption contest. Answers in the comments section, please.

Object of the Day, Caption Contest: At the Seaside

Click on image to be beside the sea.

Published in the late Nineteenth Century by Chas. Shield & Sons of Gold Street in New York City, this chromolithograph was printed, but never used by anyone as a proper trade card. Therefore, it remains unusually crisp and bright—saved from the stress of over-printing and commercial distribution. This is the sort of card which was purchased for a catalog and probably handed out as a premium or free gift with purchase. Likely, it was immediately spirited away and placed in an album where it was protected from sunlight and oily fingers for over a century.

It depicts a tender scene of a young couple snuggling beneath an umbrella. Well, tender to most people. To me, beaches don’t make me think romantic thoughts. They’re my idea of hell—close to angry waters filled with all manner of waste—both natural and otherwise—corpses of assorted species, vicious creatures and potential demise. Not to mention the sand—squishy, clinging, abrasive sand, the smell of salty decay and the sting of cruel winds. So, to me, this is a scene of two people huddling together to save their lives, their clothes soaking in moisture from the porous mess beneath them. They’re cold. They’re frightened. Before them, ships carry people off into the perilous waters. The only comfort they have comes from the color of their umbrella, a nod to Mr. Punch—the only bright spot on the sea.

But, that’s just me. Admittedly, I’m not right—in a host of ways.

I just think this is the perfect opportunity for a caption contest. You know how it works.

Object of the Day, Caption Contest: The Wayside Sketcher

Click on image to go by the Wayside.

Here’s another instance of an advertiser using a stick trade card which only barely relates to the product being sold.

I’d say this one is quite old, probably about 1860 judging by the printing and the cardstock. Though the location of the concern is not listed, I’m fairly certain it comes from the north-eastern United States.

The card advertises for:

W.H. Watson, Manager for 

BARNARD, GALLUP & CO., 

ONE PRICE CLOTHIERS, 

A Fresh Supply of Men’s and Boy’s 

CLOTHING, HATS, CAPS and FURNISHINGS 

Constantly on hand at Lowest Prices. 

One price clothier, huh? Was it like a Victorian dollar store?

Nevertheless, that all makes perfect sense. But…high above the over-printing we have the lithograph that Mr. Watson selected. It’s “The Wayside Sketcher.” Okay. What has that to do with one price clothing? He’s got a hat. He’s got clothes on. He has “furnishings.” I suppose that’s it. So, let’s have a caption contest. What’s he sketching? Why is he under an umbrella? What’s going on with his hair? Answers in the comments, please.

Object of the Day, Caption Contest: Come Maiden Year, Smiling

Click on image to leave thy bouquet at my feeties.

Hello all. I’m a little slow starting today. It’s been a busy week and Bertie insisted that I sleep late. But, I’m quasi-awake, so, let’s get started.

This beautiful blank trade card was never printed on the reverse. It’s a bit faded, but still very lovely and wholly Victorian. Ergo, it’s the slightest bit odd to modern eyes. A little girl has descended a grand stair. She’s holding a nosegay and appears to be dressed for a wedding. Why she’s standing on a grassy shag rug from the Partridge Family set is beyond me. She looks none too happy about it.

Beneath her is inscribed:

Come maiden year, smiling and kind and sweet
                      And lay thy bouquet at my dear ones feet. 

Copyright…nothing. But, I’d guess 1870-1880.

Hmmmm… Let’s have a Saturday Caption Contest. What’s this girl doing? What’s she thinking? Why the grass? I look to you for answers—answers which you’ll leave in the comments section.

Object of the Day, Caption Contest: Forget Me Not

 Click on image to forget.  Or not.

Hmmm...where to begin? This isn't a trade card per se. It's not a calling card or even a visiting card. It's simply a pretty little chromolithograph printed on card stock. Now, I do believe that this could have been used as a trade card. It looks like the sort which were available for over-printing or reverse printing through catalogs. But, this just wasn't a run-of-the-mill stock card. This one is beautifully embossed. This would have made printing on the reverse rather awkward, but that never stopped them.

This was the preferred Victorian image-- Cupid or some random putto (or perhaps just a winged baby, who can tell?) surrounded by a variety of symbolic flowers (none of which, oddly enough, is a forget-me-not), sitting on a quasi-funereal plinth, wistfully carving some sweet message into a tabula rassa with one of his arrows. On the plinth below him is inscribed "Forget me Not."

Regardless if this unused card was made as a blank trade card or as a never-used affectionate greeting, it is gorgeously printed. These bright, rich colors are, to me, the epitome of Victorian printing. Furthermore, the embossing is exceptional. A chromolithograph in relief of this quality doesn't seem to be the work of late Nineteenth-Century American printers. I'd say this was European.

So, let's have a caption contest. We've not done one yet this week. I'm ashamed, why don't you tell me what the little tyke is scrawling on the tablet...

Answers in the comments section, please.

Gratuitous Bertie Dog Picture, Caption Contest: A Scottish Bertie Dog Ignoring Muslin at Luss, Loch Lomomd

Today, I'd like to invite you to put the words in Bertie's mouth.  Put your ideas for a caption for this picture in the comments section.

Image: A Scottish Peasant Girl Embroidering Muslin at Luss, Loch Lomond, Joshua Cristall (1763-1847), 1846, Scotland, Britain, The Victoria & Albert Museum.

You know you want to have a Bertie Dog mug, tee-shirt, tote bag or water bottle. You know you do. So, take a look at our online store. 

And, here's a bonus...this fellow has recreated Noel Coward's famed, "Together With Music" television special.  It fits with our theme today.

Object of the Day, Caption Contest: Don't Cry Out Loud

Click on image to further upset the baby.

This is rather how I feel today.

However, I must wonder—at what point in our human history was this image ever considered appealing or attractive? Why a crying baby? Not just a crying baby, mind you, but a yowling, distraught baby who is almost deformed by the sheer wretchedness of his wail.

Who thinks, “You know what our product needs to help it sell? A really, really upset baby. No cute babies with smiles on their faces for us! No, no. We want our babies to be extraordinarily disturbed.”?

Well, let’s see what you think. This seems like a good time for a caption contest. Since we don’t know what this was meant to advertise, I look to all of you clever folks. Answers in the comments section, please.

Object of the Day, Caption Contest: The Baby Sitter

Click on the image to get a closer look.

This handsome chromolithograph was never utilized. In one way, it’s a shame that it wasn’t since it’s very cute. However, the fact that it wasn’t used also increased its chances of surviving in such good condition. See the “sign” in the upper right corner? That was meant to be over-printed with a company’s information. This card was printed in bulk. Advertisers could select it from a catalog and have the already-printed stock, over-printed with their own slogan and address, etc.

I was quite happy to see this card tucked into a stack I’d bought a few weeks ago. I like dogs, as you know, and I rather find the idea of a terrier taking care of a baby to be a charming one. Of course, if I was a parent to a human child, I might feel differently about this. But, as I am only a parent to Bertie, I find it cute.

Having lived with a terrier for over a decade, I have to tell you that should I ever tie a rope to a basket containing a baby, Bertie would not conclude that it was his job to gently pull the rope to rock the baby. If instructed to do something with the rope, Bertie probably would, bit, gentle rocking would not be the result. Forceful, playful tugging on the rope would occur because, well, that’s how dogs play. Babies would be flying all over the place. But, Bertie’d like that. He likes babies. They’re soft and they taste sweet (to kiss not to eat).

So, let’s have a caption contest.

What could this advertise? Why is the dog baby sitting? Whose baby is it? How does the baby feel about all of this? Why are they outside? Why is there a blank piece of wood nailed up there? And, go… Answers in the comments, please.