Advertising Card - M. B. Curtis, Boston, circa 1885

This folded advertising card, printed on brown paper, promotes the popular play "Sam'l of Posen; or, The Commercial Drummer" starring M. B. Curtis, likely for a two-week engagement at the Park Theatre in Boston commencing October 15th. The front cover features an illustration of the well-dressed character Sam'l, with the caption "The Drummer Up to Date," surrounded by ornate, period-typical decorative borders. Inside, the card provides a detailed description of "The Drummer's" personality, a humorous "Drummer's Balance Sheet" listing various "transactions" such as "Lied" and "Got drunk," and concludes with a poem titled "Poem of \"Der Drummer\"" purportedly by Chas. Francis Adams. The card utilizes distinct typography and decorative elements common in late 19th-century promotional materials.

Associated People/Businesses

• M. B. Curtis (Actor)
• George H. Jessop (Playwright)
• Chas. Francis Adams (Poet)
• Curtis, Maurice B. (Maurtiz Bertram Stelinger)

Geography

No geographic information available.

Subjects

• Theater
• Performing arts
• Actors
• Commercial travelers
• Jewish Americans
• Advertisements
• Promotional materials
• Poetry
• Victorian Era
• Boston
• Park Theatre
• American drama

Physical Location

Arc.MS.56, Box 20, Folder 5