Figure 1.-- We have found a stunning full color lithograph from the S.D. Sollers Co. Children Shoe Company. When we first found this image, we did not have a date, we have since been able to date in to 1874. It is interesting for several reasons. It shows that the technology for full color lithography was available by the 1870s. This quality of lithography was not yet suitable for newspapers and magazines, but could be done for store advertising. We also see it for packaging for products sold in stores. The advertisement also shows the popularity of high-top button shoes.

We have found a stunning full color lithograph from the S.D. Sollers Co. Children Shoe Company. When we first found this image, we did not have a date, we have since been able to date in to 1874. It is interesting for several reasons. It shows that the technology for full color lithography was available by the 1870s. This quality of lithography was not yet suitable for newspapers and magazines, but could be done for store advertising. We also see it for packaging for products sold in stores. The advertisement also shows the popularity of high-top button shoes. In this case they are for children, but men and women wore similar styles. We also see clothing styles for younger children as well as colors which presumbly are the popular colors. This is an ad for shoes, but the illustration provides all kinds of information sbout popular clothing styles. The lithograph shows six children, boys and girls. They are indoors building a tower with a stack of oversized shoes and shoe boxes advertising S.D. Sollers & Company's Children's Shoes. Fashion details include jackets, collared shirts, knee pants, knee-length full skirts with lace, ribbons, ruffles, and fitted bodices for girls, The boys and gurls wear long stockings, mostly white long stockings. One boy has bron stripped long stockings, but they look like white. Accessories include gloves, shawl, hair ribbons, feathered hats, small handbag, cane, and heeled boots with buttons and scalloped trim. The Philadelphia lithogrpher was Duval & Hunter as indicated on the bottom center margin. "E.C."--the artist's signature on stone, bottom left of image. "Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1874 by S.D. Sollers & Co. in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Wash." Text on the bottom right of image. "Buy the / celebrated shoes / stamped / Sollers & Co. / Phila."--text, bottom center of image. "S.D. Sollers / J.C. Austin / J.S. Outcalt"--text, top of shoe box, bottom left of image.

The Company

We have not been able to find much information about the S.D. Sollers Co. Children Shoe Company. We know they were located in Philsdelphia. They were a manufacturer. The company was active in the 1870s-80s. They probably were active for a longer period, but e know for fact

Lithography

We have found a stunning full color lithograph from the S.D. Sollers Co. Children Shoe Company. Photo lithography was developed in the late 1850s (at least in America). The printing process in question is called half tone (or process engraving) printing that all owed for the mass production. It was developed about 1850 in Europe but was dependent upon improvements in paper manufacturing before it could be used in mass circulation newspapers and magazines Half tones consist of dots with tonal gradations allowing the reproduction of photographs in publications. Color printing was quite complicated and very expensive before the development of color-separated photo reproduction methods. Color images were printed by applying the color through the same lithographic method discussed above. A large stone was used by a printer for color reproduction. Each color was drawn in by the artist with a grease pencil. The stone was next covered with water and then with an oil-based ink. The grease pencil repelled the water and thus created a receptive surface for the appropriately colored ink.

Date

When we first found this image, we did not have a date, we have since been able to date in to 1874. It is interesting for several reasons. It shows that the tchnology for full color lithography was available by the 1870s. This quality of lithography was not suitable for newspapers and magazines, but could be done for store advertising. We also see it for packaging for products sold in stores.

Footwear

The advertisement also shows the popularity of high-top button shoes. In this case they are for children, but men and women wore similar styles. One source describes 'heeled boots with buttons and scalloped trim'. They of course are not boots, but high-top shoes. We suspect that the bright colored shoes were for women and girls whiole boys wore brown and black. This is what is suggestd by the lithograph here (figure 1).

Clothing

We also see clothing styles for younger children as well as colors which presumbly are the popular colors. This is an ad for shoes, but the illustration provides all kinds of information sbout popular clothing styles. The lithograph shows six children, boys and girls. They are indoors building a tower with a stack of oversized shoes and shoe boxes advertising S.D. Sollers & Company's Children's Shoes. Fashion details include jackets, collared shirts, knee pants, knee-length full skirts with lace, ribbons, ruffles, and fitted bodices for girls, The boys and gurls wear long stockings, mostly white long stockings. One boy has bron stripped long stockings, but they look like white. Accessories include gloves, shawl, hair ribbons, feathered hats, small handbag, cane, and heeled boots with buttons and scalloped trim.

Boys

the boys all wear suits. Boys' fashion details include: a bowler hat, cut-away jackets, collared shirts, and knee pants. The jackets have small, high-set lapels. The suits are grey and brown. Notuce the yellow stripe on the one boy's knee pants. Their blouses are plain with smll collars, characteritic of the 1870s. The boys and girls wear long stockings, mostly white long stockings. One boy has brown stripped long stockings, but they look like white. The boys' accesories include ribbon bows and a cane.

Girls

Girls fashion details include: knee-length full skirts with lace, ribbons, ruffles, and fitted bodices. Accessories include gloves, shawl, hair ribbons, feathered hats, small handbag, and cane. One of the older girls has a hair bow, ghe oter wears a hat wuth whst looks like a large red plume. The yonger girl has plain dress with a low neckline. There are bows reporesenting leading strings. The older girkls hve very fancy dresses. One has a stange device at the back, perhaps a kind of bussel. The other girl has a large gold bow at the bck. Notice the dresses are done in both blue and pink.

Details

The Philadelphia lithogrpher was Duval & Hunter as indicated on the bottom center margin. "E.C."--the artist's signature on stone, bottom left of image. "Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1874 by S.D. Sollers & Co. in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Wash." Text on the bottom right of image. "Buy the / celebrated shoes / stamped / Sollers & Co. / Phila."--text, bottom center of image. "S.D. Sollers / J.C. Austin / J.S. Outcalt"--text, top of shoe box, bottom left of image.

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Created: 4:20 AM 12/3/2018
Last updated: 4:20 AM 12/3/2018