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Subject: 19th Century Americana

No additional authority information available for 19th Century Americana.


Miniature Deck of Cards: 'Brought from Calcutta by B. Tuttle of the ship John Clark 1869-7'Miniature Deck of Cards: 'Brought from Calcutta by B. Tuttle of the ship John Clark 1869-7'

Rare miniature deck of cards, possibly used by sailors, with no numbers on the cards. Handwritten on one spade is "brought from Calcutta by B. Tuttle of the ship John Clark 1869-7". The cards were manufactured by A & E Cohen of London, and are tied with a ribbon with printed suits. This deck is significant due to its connection to the Cohen family, prominent figures in the American and British stationery and playing card industries. The London branch of A & E Cohen played a role in the founding of Henry Cohen Stationary of Philadelphia in the late 1830s. Lewis I. Cohen, born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1800, received training in London and became the first American to produce lead pencils and sell steel pens. He mechanized color printing for playing cards in 1835. His son, Solomon L. Cohen, and nephew, John M. Lawrence, continued the business as Lawrence and Cohen, later forming the New York Consolidated Card Company in 1871 with Samuel Hart & Co. and other partners. The deck was likely produced before 1871, given the connection to A & E Cohen London and the handwriting indicating its use in 1869-70.

Trade Card: Comical Illustration of a Man Picking Up a Wallet with a StringTrade Card: Comical Illustration of a Man Picking Up a Wallet with a String

Trade card depicting a comical illustration of a man picking up a wallet with a string. The card includes the text "APRIL" and the address "182 MAIN STREET". It is likely a circa 1885 trade card related to mercantile business, given its association with the 'Mercantile' topic tag in the source metadata. The card is part of a larger collection, specifically located in Arc.MS.56, Volume 25, Page 23.

Trade Card: George Washington, Rock Bottom ShoesTrade Card: George Washington, Rock Bottom Shoes

Trade card depicting George Washington and advertising Rock Bottom Shoes. The card was displayed at a Library of Congress exhibit in Cincinnati, Ohio, sometime in 2005. The card is circa 1885. The card was part of the SELZ / SCHWAB collection.