Envelope: Mandel Brothers, Chicago, Illinois

This is a beautiful envelope from Mandel Brothers, a prominent Chicago department store. Both the front and back feature an Oriental design, possibly intended as sachet packaging. The design is richly detailed with an aesthetic that reflects late 19th-century tastes. The style of the illustration includes elements that might be considered stereotypical representations of Asian cultures. Note that the envelope was part of a Library of Congress exhibit in Cincinnati in 2005 (AJA).

Associated People/Businesses

• MANDEL BROTHERS

Geography

• Chicago

Subjects

• Envelopes (Stationery)
• Department stores
• Trade cards
• Asian Americans

Physical Location

Arc.MS.56, Volume 43, Page 4