History folk! Anyone got any clues what this might be? About the size of a cigarette packet but sadly lacking any identifying branding I can see… #19c 🗃️ - ThreadSky

emilybrand.bsky.social • 467 days ago

History folk! Anyone got any clues what this might be?

About the size of a cigarette packet but sadly lacking any identifying branding I can see… #19c 🗃️

Comments

maggy.kia.net•467 days ago

It feels like a Victorian era advert for a product perhaps shown at those exhibitions. The striped trousers at upper left would have been on a person pointing to a product or a claim, etc. It has the flavor of these kinds of ads: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/19th-century-health-advertising.html?sortBy=relevant

maggy.kia.net•467 days ago

Also the red and white striped trousers feel almost Uncle Sam-ish? Although I don't think he appeared that way until the turn of the century.

spoonbill.bsky.social•467 days ago

I've seen a cartoon from 1867 where Uncle Sam is advocating for universal suffrage. He looks a bit less lanky, and the cartoon is in black and white, but he's referred to by name. So yes, we could have part of a label with Uncle Sam on it from the 1870s.

burntcopper.bsky.social•467 days ago

Ooo there's a catalogue for one of the london ones available https://ia904706.us.archive.org/10/items/gri_33125008618163/gri_33125008618163.pdf

deanbarker.bsky.social•466 days ago

Not unlike those decals put onto the soundboards of pianos (typically from 1880s-1920s to indicate all the prestigious awards won by the pianomaker from entering in exhibits.

Except here you have "health exhibit" so unlikely about pianos.