Subject: Monkeys

This colorful trade card advertises Jalonack, a Clothier & Merchant Tailor located at 8 West Railroad Street in Syracuse, N.Y. The front of the card features a vibrant illustration of a comical monkey dressed in a ruffled collar, blue jacket, and red pants, pulling a pig by its leg, set against a dotted background suggesting grass. The reverse side presents a detailed price list for various made-to-order and ready-made clothing items, including "All Wool Pants made to order" for $5.00, "All Wool Suits" for $15.00, "Overcoats" for $15.00, a "Good business-suit ready made" for $6.00, and a "Heavy Overcoat ready made" for $4.00. The text on the card is in a clear, straightforward font, with the business name "Jalonack's" prominently displayed on both sides. 3.

This trade card for Lustig, The Clothier, also known as Lustig's Popular Clothing House, features a humorous and ornate illustration on its front side. Printed in red ink, it depicts anthropomorphic monkeys. One monkey with long, flowing hair holds a banner proclaiming "COMPLIMENTS OF LUSTIG, THE CLOTHIER, Fort Edward, N. Y." Other monkeys, dressed in suits, are also part of the scene. The front also bears a copyright notice: "COPYRIGHT 1885 BY J. AKER." The reverse side serves as a full advertisement, stating the business is located at "155 and 157 Broadway, Fort Edward, N. Y.," and offers "a complete stock of READY-MADE CLOTHING, GENTS' FURNISHING GOODS, HATS, CAPS, TRUNKS, VALISES, &C., &C." 3.

This trade card from Nye & Blatner, a shoe store located at 4 Beaver Block, South Pearl Street, Albany, N.Y., advertises their "Fine Shoes" around 1885. The card features an illustration in blue ink depicting a man in a feathered hat sitting on a drum, interacting with a performing monkey. The text uses ornate Victorian-style lettering for the business name and product description. The imagery likely serves to attract attention and convey a sense of entertainment or whimsy. **3.

This trade card for M. Bierman's Son, clothiers, located at 16 Church Street in New Brunswick, New Jersey, features a whimsical illustration of monkeys fishing from a shoe. The image is likely a caricature and contains elements that could be considered racist. The style of the illustration and the overall design of the card suggest a late 19th-century origin, aligning with the circa 1885 date. The card is trimmed, indicating it may have been part of a larger set or collection. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises music lessons offered by S. & E. Weinlander's. The front of the card features a charming illustration of a child playing a drum accompanied by a monkey. The style of the illustration suggests a late 19th-century aesthetic. The back of the card provides the full advertisement, detailing pricing for music instruction: "Gents $6.00 & Ladies $5.00 for ten weeks of twenty lessons." Two addresses are listed: 290 Court Street, Brooklyn, and 125 Rivington St., NYC. Private lessons were also available.