Type and Lettering

"Merit Reward Merit. Look up and not down. Look forward and not backward. Look out and not in. And lend a hand. Presented to David Snyder, by R. C. McNamar, teacher. Colton, Zahm & Roberts, N.Y." American author Edward Everett Hale (1822-1909) published variations of his "Four Mottos" ("Look up and not down, look forward and not back, look out and not in, and lend a hand!") as early as 1870. For another reward of merit printed by Colton, Zahm, & Roberts, see Those Who Know Everything in General Know Nothing in Particular .

A reward of merit dated 1875. Unfortunately, the small but colorful chromolithographed scrap glued to the middle of the card isn't positioned correctly (take a look at a rotated version instead of craning your neck), but the elaborate design surrounding the scrap makes up for it. The nineteenth-century "maxim" printed on the card reminds me of the modern quip about know-it-alls: "Those who think they know everything annoy those of us who do." For another reward of merit printed by Colton, Zahm, & Roberts, see Look Up and Not Down . Golden Maxim Reward Those who know everything in general, know nothing in particular. Colton, Zahm, & Roberts, New York. Written on the back of the card: "1875, James M. Stoner."

A rotated view of this reward of merit provides a better--though still tilted--view of the chromolithographed scrap added in the middle For the original, see Those Who Know Everything in General Know Nothing in Particular .

"Ice Cream, Clifford Sutton, 5¢" For other ice cream price tags, see Ice Cream, 5 Cents and Wertley's Quality Ice Cream Price Tags .

A business card by Pluck Print with an illustration of anthropomorphic pigs by the Philadelphia engraving firm of Crosscup and West. C. L. Hartz Dealer in all kinds of first-class smoked meats, such as ham, dried beef, bologna, breakfast bacon, &c Cheese: New York state, full cream, imported Swiss, sapsago, kimmel, and Limburger. 223 East Frederick St., Lancaster, Pa. At Northern and Central Markets. Avenue C, stalls 37 and 39, Northern Market. Pluck Print. Buyers Office. Crosscup & West, Phila.

A nineteenth-century advertising card for Spangler & Rich, a store in Marietta , Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Amazingly enough, the building that housed the store is still standing, and its façade hasn't changed dramatically in over 100 years. A laundromat occupies the building today. See a side-by-side comparison of the image on the card and a recent Google Street View (from 2011) of the building . Spangler & Rich No. 64 Market Street, Marietta, Pa., Dealers in Dry Goods, Clothing, Groceries, &c. Fish--Carpets and Floor Oil Clothes. Queensware and Wall Papers--Salt. Express Steam Print, Lancaster, Pa. Crosscup, Phila.

This is a side-by-side comparison of a nineteenth-century advertising card with a Google Street View (from 2011) of the building depicted on the card. It's quite surprising to discover that the façade of the building, which was a store in the late 1800s and today is a laundromat, hasn't changed much in over 100 years. See a second Google Street View from a slightly different angle for a better view of the signs and window on the first floor.

A colorful cigar box label.

A cigar box label.

"Glick's Hikory & Apple Wood Smoked Meats. Home Made Cheese. Home Made Butter & Brooms. Bologna Sticks." A wonderfully unpretentious hand-painted sign for Glick's Meat and Cheese stand at Root's Country Market and Auction, located near Manheim , Pennsylvania.

This "Mule Barometer" joke (sometimes also called a "Burrometer") has a long history and has appeared in many different printed versions (often with a more dramatic condition like "If tail is gone--Tornado" as the punchline). Although it's frequently published as a postcard, this example is actually an advertising card printed for the Central Brass Manufacturing Company, which has been in existence since 1895 and still continues to manufacture brass faucets and fixtures. Today, the Mule Barometer gag regularly reappears as a " weather rock ," which is--as Wikipedia interprets it--"a humor display that pokes fun at the intricate technology used in modern weather forecasts, as well as the fact that their accuracy is less than perfect. A rock is typically hung from a tripod and accompanied by a sign indicating how to read it." -------- Mule Barometer Directions: Hang outside. If tail is dry--Fair. If tail is wet--Rain If tail is swinging--Windy. If tail is wet and swinging--Stormy. If tail is frozen--Cold. Further information upon request. There is no kick coming to those who use the highest grade brass goods for plumbing and water works made by the Central Brass Mfg. Co.

A ticket or invitation for a "Social Hop" (dance) held at the Washington House hotel in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, on June 30, 1870. "A Social Hop will be held at the Washington House, in Mount Joy, Pa., Thursday, June 30th, 1870. Your company is respectfully solicited. Managers, Harry Sholl, Martin M. Brubacher, Albert Culp. Floor manager, Mart. Hildebrand."

"J. W. Dolliver's Café, 111 State & 5 Broad Streets , choice fruit & cigars. All orders for catering promptly executed." The Boston Globe for Monday, February 1, 1875, p. 5, reported that a "fire in the cellar of James Dolliver's café on the corner of State and Broad streets" the previous Saturday caused damage to the café and to the Western Union Telegraph Company office located next door. James W. Dolliver was also listed in city directories as the proprietor of a restaurant at the Custom House in Boston, but I'm not certain if or for how long he continued to operate his café at State and Broad Streets after the fire in 1875. And I'm not sure why "5 Broad Street" was crossed out on this copy of his business card. There's no longer any trace of a café at the corner of State and Broad streets in Boston. Perhaps Mr. Dolliver would be satisfied to know, however, that the Google Street view dated August 2017 does show a Dunkin' Donuts at that location. I doubt, though, that the fonts on DD's business cards are as elaborate as the ones on Dolliver's.

Postcard addressed on the other side to: "Prof. H. C. Klinger, Liverpool, Pa., R.F.D. #1." Partial transcription of the message (no year and no postmark): "Sept. 17th, 9 a.m. At Grange Park C. H. in remembrance of the hunting . . . J. J. Jordan." The Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair --usually just called the "Grange Fair"--has been held annually in Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, since 1874. For another postcard with the same ears-of-corn border, see Memorial Day .

For another postcard with the same ears-of-corn border, see Greetings from the Grange Encampment and Fair, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania .

An advertising postcard for Nunn-Bush Shoes. None But Nunn-Bush Shoes for Me! Nunn-Bush Ankle-Fashioned Oxfords. Most styles, $8.50 to $11.50, a few higher. Nunn-Bush shoes are ankle-fashioned to make their trim lines last. The John B. Wilt Co., "The Home of Good Clothes," Elkins, W. Va.

"W. R. Cheney, Carriage Builder. Repairing and repainting done promptly. 26 North Christian St., Lancaster, Pa." William R. Cheney (1859-1932) was a blacksmith and carriage builder in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. For similar business cards from the same job printer ( Pluck Print ), see Chas. O. Ursprung, Horse Collar Manufacturer, Lancaster, Pa. and William C. Myers, Practical Artesian Well Contractor, Salunga, Pa. For a card from another carriage maker, see Bardens Carriage Company, Horseshoers and Wagonmakers, West Orange, New Jersey .

A Victorian-era calling card for "Mr. E. H. White" along with his photograph, which looks like it may have been copied from a CDV. Anyone recognize the typeface? For similar cards, see my album of Calling Cards with Photographs .