African American Subjects in Promotional Advertisements, 1880s
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Small lot of 3 advertisements with African American subjects. C. 1880s. Promotional card for a shoe store and 2 advertisements for Rising Sun Stove Polish. C. 1880s. Postcard measures 7 x 5 inches. Advertisements are printed together on one page measuring 7 x 6 inches. Postcard shows an African American man and woman performing in concert. The woman sits at a piano, hands poised over its keys, dressed in a rich yellow silk Victorian style dress with emerald sash at its bustle, a red rose in her hair and gold hoops at her ears. The man stands beside her in tuxedo, a sheet of music in his hands, lips pursed in song. Verso advertises "Compliments of J.F.Giese, dealer in boots and shoes, Cincinnati." Household ads show African American man and woman in kitchen, their exchange captioned below, reading in part, "You jest git de Rising Sun Stove Polish right away, or dar'l be trouble. You think I got time to 'speriment with such mud?" Verso shows a box of the polish with text that reads in part, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, advertisers commonly promoted products and services using African Americans with animalistic features and exaggerated dialects unrelated to the products for sale, marking the insidious link between capitalism and racism as its strategy changed post-slavery. Light ink stains to card do not affect image. Light toning to both does not affect images or text. Overall very good condition.Item #18388
Price: $285.00
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