Figure 1.-- Here is a beautiful colorized ad for Steinwandle Shoes of Lancaster, Pennsylvania made to look like a cabinent portrait card. The card is interesting both as an example of contemporary advertising and for the clothing depictions.

Here is a beautiful colorized ad for Steinwandle Shoes of Lancaster, Pennsylvania made to look like a cabinent portrait card. I am not sure about the date it was printed. The card is interesting because it shows one of the contemprary types of advertising. A dealer writes, "I believe it was from the 1860s. I found it in a Bible/Religious book (that I am selling separately) dated 1868 so it is from around that time or a bit later I am guessing. It measures approx. 4 by 6 1/2 inches with a beautifu scene of two young girls holding one another and one has a dog on her lap. On the bottom is states: "Go to Steinwnadle, For a good boot or shoe" and the address of the store in Lancaster." We are not sure about the date. The high-quality lithography, however, suggests that the date is more likely the 1880s.

Advertising Cards

Here is a beautiful colorized ad for Steinwandle Shoes of Lancaster, Pennsylvania made to look like a cabinent card. The card is interesting because it shows one of the contemprary types of advertising. The dealer writes, "It measures approx. 4 by 6 1/2 inche. It is in good condition with a slick feel to the paper/cardboard. Bright and colorful." On the bottom is states: "Go to Steinwnadle, For a good boot or shoe" and the address of the store in Lancaster."

The Company

On the back it has "I Desire To Announce to my friends and the public in general tha I have opened a BOOT AND SHOE STORE at No. 6 South Prince Street, Lancaster, Pa., Where can be found the finest stock of Boots and Shoes in the city. Having purchased my stock in the Eastern markets for cash, I feel that I can offer my patrons the Best Goods at the Lowest Prices. Special attention given to Custom Work and Repairing. A. STEINWANDLE, No. 6 South Prince Street, Lancaster, Pa".

Chronology

I am not sure about the date it was printed. The dealer writes, "I believe it was from the 1860s. I found it in a Bible/Religious book (that I am selling separately) dated 1868 so it is from around that time or a bit later I am guessing." We are not sure about the date. The high-quality lithography, however, suggests that the date is more likely the 1880s.

Children

The dealer writes, "The card offers a beautiful scene of two young girls holding one another and one has a dog on her lap." It is difficult to tell with the poor quality image, bit it looks to us that the younger child may be a boy who has not yet been breeched. A HBC reader writes, "Yes, despite the fact that the dealer believes that the child on the right is a girl, I think you are right that the company meant to depict a boy. My experience is that dealers often do not recognize that younger boys were often outfitted in dresses at the gtime."

Clothing Depiction

The card is also interesting because of the clothing depicted. Both children wear dresses. The coloring is interesting because actual caninent cards of the day were black and white. Here we see what is probably accurate color depictions. The girl wears a pink dress with red long stockings. The boy wears what looks wike a white dress with a blue bow and dark blue stockkings. Note that in a black and white photograph that these long stockings would have appeared black. Thus this card is a useful indicator as to the possible long stocking colors in the late 19th century. Also interesting is the use of pink and blue. Of course this is a lithograph and not a photograp so we can not be positive that these were the actual colors. They also wear boots/shoes which was presumably the main focus of the card.

Created: 8:08 PM 8/7/2005
Last updated: 8:08 PM 8/7/2005