Album Die Cuts from Alan Mays

A. F. Moore, M.D., Winsted, Connecticut, ca. 1883

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 02:02:02 +0000

Dr. Arthur F. Moore (1843-1924) used this colorful leaf-shaped trade card to advertise his medical practice in Winsted, Connecticut.

Moore occasionally contributed notes about medical topics that appeared in the United States Medical Investigator (prior to 1875 the title of the periodical was simply the Medical Investigator). Since the published pieces included his name and location, they document the different places he lived.

Notes that Moore contributed in 1872 and 1873, for instance, listed his residence as Lyons, Wisconsin. By 1877 he had moved to Sandy Hill, New York. In 1883 he was in Winsted, Connecticut, where he handed out copies of this trade card. A year later, he was in Bridgewater, Vermont, and then in 1886 he ended up in in Ludlow, Vermont.

For another leaf-shaped trade card, see The Livermore Pen, Stylographic Pen Co., Boston, Mass.

A. F. Moore, M.D.

Office in Park Place
Hours 1 to 2 & 6 to 8 P.M.

Residence
141 Main Street, Winsted, Ct.

Easter Bunny Greetings from Putnam Dyes, ca. 1910s

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 04:28:09 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Economize by using Putnam Dyes and Putnam Dry-Cleaner."

Printed on the back of this die-cut advertising card: "Easter Greetings from Frank P. Allen, Shanks, W. Va."

A royal rabbit wearing a crown sits on colorful Easter eggs to promote Putnam Dyes—used for clothes but not eggs, as far as I know—and Putnam Dry-Cleaner, a solvent for home dry cleaning.

For another multicolored advertising piece from this company, see Putnam Fadeless Dyes and Tints Advertising Fan.

Ulysses S. Grant Calling Card

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 06:10:02 +0000

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"E pluribus unum. Remember me."

A Victorian-era hidden-name calling card with an illustration of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885). The colorful die-cut scrap was a memorial to the president, and it lifts up on the right-hand side to reveal the name of "Mabel E. Emerich" printed underneath.

A Merry Christmas from Hershey's Ice Cream

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 03:06:19 +0000

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Die-cut advertisement designed for hanging on a tree.

Votes for Women Valentine—No Votes, No Hearts

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 20:10:15 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A die-cut Valentine greeting card with a suffragette girl giving a soapbox speech about women's voting rights. It wasn't until the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920 that all women in the United States had the right to vote.

For another copy of this card, see "No Votes No Hearts," Comic Valentine, ca. 1910-1920 over on Flickr.

Votes for Women—No Votes, No Hearts.

If words could tell of all the love within this heart of mine.
I'd keep on speaking till I'd won you for my Valentine.

Long May Peace Attend Thee!

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 21:22:48 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Long may peace attend thee!"

A Victorian-era hidden-name calling card with shaking hands, a sailing ship, and the Statue of Liberty, all surrounded by a border of roses and forget-me-nots. The colorful illustration consists of a separate die-cut that lifts up on the right-hand side to reveal the name of "Edward M. Mercer" printed underneath.

Reward of Merit Bookmark

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 02:37:04 +0000

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"Reward of Merit. Book Mark. To: Nellie Briggs, by Hattie E. Perry, teacher."

S. C. Lord, Dealer in Meats, Vegetables, and Produce

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 23:01:18 +0000

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"S. C. Lord, dealer in meats, vegetables, & produce of every kind. All fruits in their season."

This Victorian-era die-cut advertising trade card has apparently been trimmed down and probably originally included an address of "8 Cranston, St., Providence, R.I., opposite Hoyle Hotel." For a complete orange-colored copy, see the S. C. Lord card in Richard D. Sheaff's amazing collection of Diecuts.

Father! I Cannot Tell a Lie!

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 03:28:56 +0000

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"Father! I cannot tell a lie! I did it with my little hatchet!"

For more information, see the front of this Washington Birthday Reception announcement:

Washington Birthday Reception, Philadelphia, Pa., 1890s

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 03:28:58 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Washington Birthday Reception, Prof. Carroll's Auditorium, 1102 S. Broad Street, Monday, Feb'y 22, 8 to 12. Special attractions!"

Today Washington's Birthday seems to be an excuse for car dealers to hold month-long "Presidents' Day" car sales. But once upon a time, the day to celebrate the first President of the United States was set aside for orations, teas, dinners, and other special celebrations.

This paper hatchet is an announcement of one special Washington Birthday Reception that was held in Philadelphia, probably sometime in the 1890s (either 1892 or 1897, I believe, which were years when February 22 fell on a Monday). The apocryphal story about George Washington and the cherry tree is, of course, the reason for the hatchet shape, and the punchline to the story --"Father! I cannot tell a lie! I did it with my little hatchet!"--is printed on the other side (see below).

Professor Carroll's title wasn't an academic rank like we use for college and university teachers today but instead identified him as a dance teacher. He may have been a member of the American Society of Professors of Dancing or one of the other dance teacher organizations that were established in the late nineteenth century (for more on this, see Philadelphia Dance Teachers: Taking Steps, a posting on the Philadelphia Dance History Journal blog).

I haven't been able to determine what activities or "special attractions" might have taken place as part of Professor Carroll's Washington Birthday Reception from 8:00 p.m. to midnight on that Monday, February 22, although presumably dancing was involved. I did find this complimentary though vague description of a "monthly reception" that was held in 1894 (from A "Doings in Dancing Circles" column in the Philadelphia Inquirer, October 21, 1894, p. 15):

"Professor Carroll's Auditorium, 1102 South Broad Street, was nearly full to overflowing at the monthly reception last Monday night, and a prettier picture than this beautifully decorated, brightly lighted hall, with so many handsome well-dressed people, could not be found. Mr. Carroll is such a genial whole-souled fellow and so capable of carrying out to a success such a party as this that one hardly ever questions who will be there, for they know in advance that every one and every one of the best would not be absent on such an occasion."

Simplex Typewriters, Santa's Favorite, 1908

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 20:47:10 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Simplex Typewriters, Santa's Favorite, 1908

Sample of work of Simplex No. 1, $1.00: This machine will delight any boy or girl and older folks find it useful.

Sample of work of Simplex No. 2½, $2.50: A neat little note size typewriter that will please Glays or Joe, or Mama for social correspondence.

Sample of work of Simplex No. 5, $5.00: It will write a letter like this on wide business paper like Father's.

Simplex Lithograph Co., New York.

See also the front of this die-cut Santa advertisement:

Santa's Favorite Simplex Typewriters, 1908

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 20:47:12 +0000

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"Simplex Typewriters, $1.00, $2.50, $5.00. The most instructive and useful gift possible to give any child, boy or girl. Come at once to see them demonstrated at E. Schneider & Sons Co., 80 Bergenline Ave., Hudson Hill, N.J."

If you have any interest in the history of typewriters—or vintage ads, photos, and ephemera related to typewriters—then you may want to track down a copy of the recently published book, The Typewriter: A Graphic History of the Beloved Machine (Calgary, Alberta: Uppercase Publishing, 2015), by Janie Vangool (full disclosure: my name appears in a list of supporters at the back of the book just because I preordered a copy).

I don't believe that this Simplex Santa makes an appearance in The Typewriter, but there are photos of a couple of Simplex (Toy) Typewriters (one dated 1910), along with Christmas magazine advertisements, Valentine cards, letterheads, postcards (including a copy of this one, p. 123), manuals, instruction books, certificates, touch typing charts (a colorful example similar to this one appears on pp. 86-87), die cuts, ribbon tins, and other delights.

Here's the other side of this die-cut Santa advertisement:

Those Who Know Everything in General Know Nothing in Particular (Rotated)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 02:25:06 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

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.

Those Who Know Everything in General Know Nothing in Particular

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 02:25:08 +0000

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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."

Look Up and Not Down

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 02:25:10 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"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.

Good Humor Man Mask

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 20:38:22 +0000

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The back of this Good Humor Man paper mask from the 1960s gives assembly instructions (push out the perforated ear flaps, attach elastic band, put it around your head) and then advises, "Hi, now you're a Good Humor Man, too. Always remember why Good Humor Ice Cream is by far the best. Good Humors are made from sweet ice cream and delicious fresh fruits.... And Good Humors are covered with a thick layer of rich Dutch chocolate." Yum!

Frances Clara Folsom Cleveland (Mrs. Grover Cleveland)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 20:40:48 +0000

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Caption: "Mrs. Cleveland." Name hidden underneath the printed scrap: "Rue Crounover" (see Explanation of Hidden Name Calling Cards for an illustration showing how these cards work).

Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, began his first term in office (1885-1889) as a bachelor, but married Frances Clara Folsom in 1886. She served as First Lady during the remainder of Cleveland's first term and again during his second term (1893-1897).

President Cleveland was also featured on a similar calling card:

Irwin G. Waggener

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 20:18:36 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Victorian-era calling card with pasted-on photograph. The typeface is MacKellar, Smiths & Jordan's Spencerian Script with ornamented capitals.

Despite the variant spelling of the last name, this card may have belonged to Irwin Guy Waggoner (1882-1975), who lived in Oregon. If so--and if he actually had his photograph taken and cards printed when he was as young as he appears in the photo--then it's likely that this calling card dates to the 1880s or 1890s.

This is the only calling card with a child's photo that I've ever seen. For additional examples of photographic calling cards, see my Calling Cards with Photographs album.

Lady's Invitation, Eighth Annual Picnic of the Philadelphia Assembly, Strawberry Mansion, Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 1, 1856

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 04:03:02 +0000

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"Eighth Annual Pic Nic of the Philadelphia Assembly. Lady's Invitation. Strawberry Mansion. Monday, Sept. 1st, 1856."

A lady's embossed ticket or invitation for the annual picnic of the Philadelphia Dancing Assembly that was held at Strawberry Mansion in 1856.

See also the similarly named Lady's Invitation, Reliance Fire Company, 15th Annual Ball, Jan. 1, 1879.

Electricity in a Bottle

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 23:49:44 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Electricity in a Bottle. Cures catarrh, hay fever, headache, asthma, neuralgia. Price, $1.00. The West Electric Cure Co., Chicago, Ills."

A die-cut advertising trade card for an electrifying patent medicine.