Examples of Ethnic Trade Cards are found below…
… many of these historical images can be considered highly offensive.
Please do NOT continue …
… unless you are comfortable confronting offensive images from America’s troubled history of race relations.
ABOVE: Round Bottom Ginger Ale bottle presented by African-American waiter.
Manufactures – Sprague, Warner & Company, Chicago / Scarce Card. Typically sells for $125+ when available.
=============================== Below: Sunday Gloss
“Sunday Gloss” – Hovey’s Starch. Ethnic housekeeping servants: Irish Kitchen Help / Black Maid with Sad Iron. Blank Reverse.
Examples of this card in fine condition typically sell for $40 – $80.
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Above: Higgins’ German Laundry Soap. Black washer woman… hands bleached white: “Dars no use… Missus… am de soap.”
Scarce: ca. 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Shows washtub, washboard, 2 sad irons, classic “Aunt Jemima” figure.
This example of very scarce card show age with flaws, reverse scrapbook damage, etc. Value: $75 – $150
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Below: “The Cook Likes it.”
“King’s Quick Rising” – flour hand print, gins from the kitchen and at the breakfast table. “Mrs. Hopper’s Pan Cake Flour,” etc.
Very Scarce: This example displays quite well, but creased down center horizontally and vertically. Value: $75 to $100
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LABOR WARS: Black Labor vs. Irish Labor
Above: Irishman Stomped by Black Dancer. Somewhat Scarce, Stock Card. Value: $35
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Below: Oscar Wilde Parody / Satire – 1882 Duval “National Aesthetic” series – Ethnic Stereotypes / artistic wanna-bees
“Ise g wne for to wushup dat lily… bcase it sembles me.” Black “Lily” card from set of 6. Value: $75
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Below… Hold to the Light … shown from both sides with light shining through. Closeup views of text, etc.
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Above: “Hold to the Light” – “Jeff tried to swipe a Chicken – – (That Fowl the Darkey Loves) … He’s Gone to Heaven … Adler’s Gloves.”
This is one of the most offensive of all HTL / ethnic cards ever issued. Scarce… usually sells (when available) for $175 to $275.
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