Die Cuts

"The Great Raymond. ¿No lo ha visto ud? [Have you seen him?]. Ya llegó [He is here]." This circular advertising piece--similar in size and appearance to a luggage label--shows two small imps or devils whispering in the ears of Morris Raymond Saunders (1877-1948), a magician whose stage name was "The Great Raymond." If the translation from Spanish (above) is correct, one imp is asking, "Have you seen him?," and the other is answering, "He is here." According to Rhett Bryson, professor in the Theatre Arts department at Furman University, "The image of the sagacious magician looking knowingly at the viewer with small imps whispering the enduring secrets of magic in his ear has been often used on magician's advertising posters. This image of the magician getting the 'secrets' from these underworld demi-devils apparently started with Harry Kellar (on his 1894 poster)." For further discussion and additional images of imps imparting information to magicians on posters and other advertising materials, see Bryson's A Visual History of Whispering Imps on Magic Posters . For another example of whispering imps, see the Howard and Jane Thurston Good Luck Throw-Out Card (small image below).

"Yours Truly. A. J. Clark."

One of five John S. Kriebel calling cards--two photographic cards ( John S. Kriebel and J. S. K. ) and three chromolithographed cards ( John S. Kriebel , John S. Kriebel, Only Thee , and John S. Kriebel, A Token of Love ). See also John S. Kriebel, Only Thee (Detail) , which shows the embellishments on the uppercase letters of the name, including a fish at the bottom of the S and a bird on the K. The typeface is MacKellar, Smiths & Jordan's Spencerian Script with ornamented capitals.

A Victorian-era hidden-name calling card.

The cover of this small die-cut cookbook, Old Pennsylvania Recipes , by Mrs. T. Roberts Appel and Mrs. Calvin N. Wenrich, published in 1933, shows an Amish girl standing in front of a gate.

For this menu, see the front (above), inside , and back . "Jackson-Jefferson Day Dinner honoring U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver, Abraham Lincoln Hotel, Reading, Pa., March 1, 1952." According to Wikipedia, " Jefferson-Jackson Day is the most common name given to the annual fundraising celebration (dinner) held by Democratic Party organizations in the United States. It is named for Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. During presidential election campaigns, certain dinners are considered important venues for candidates to attend." Estes Kefauver was a U.S. Senator from Tennessee who was seeking the Democratic nomination for president when this dinner was held in March 1952. He had adopted the coonskin cap as a campaign symbol after political opponents claimed that he was a "raccoon-like Communist puppet." The unique headgear became popular in the 1950s and 1960s as the result of television programs that featured Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone wearing coonskin caps. As Wikipedia explains, "In the 1952 presidential election , Kefauver decided to offer himself as a candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Campaigning in his coonskin cap, often by dogsled, Kefauver won in an electrifying victory in the New Hampshire primary, defeating President Harry S. Truman, the sitting President of the United States, prompting Truman to cease campaigning for renomination." Despite Kefauver's early success, the Democratic presidential nominee that year was Illinois governor Adlai Stevenson.

For this menu, see the front , inside (above), and back . Menu: "Half grapefruit maraschino, celery hearts, mixed olives, sliced roast tenderloin, parisienne potatoes, buttered lima beans, hearts of lettuce, Roquefort dressing, rolls, butter, coffee, blueberry tartlette." Program: "Address, Hon. Estes Kefauver, U.S. Senator, State of Tennessee. Music by Leo Brailer Trio."

For this menu, see the front , inside , and back (above). "Sponsored by Labor's League for Political Education."

"The Livermore Pen, manufactured by the Stylographic Pen Co., 290 Washington St., Boston." For the back, see The Celebrated Livermore Pen Stylographic Pen .

"The Celebrated Livermore Stylographic Pen is a pencil which writes ink, never needs sharpening, and never wears out. Adopted by over 200,000 knights of the quill, in this country and abroad. Every pen warranted, and sold on trial. The Livermore Pen combines all the latest improvements." For the front, see The Livermore Pen, Stylographic Pen Co., Boston, Mass.

"Latest styles in boots and shoes at H. O. Robinson's, opp. Hampshire House, Ware."

This advertisement consists of two die-cut pieces--shaped like a cow and a milkmaid--that have been glued together. For the back of this two-part advertising trade card, see De Laval Separators Have Revolutionized Dairying . "De Laval Cream Separators. Save $10 per cow every year."

This advertisement consists of two die-cut pieces--shaped like a cow and a milkmaid--that have been glued together. For the front of this two-part advertising trade card, see De Laval Cream Separators . "De Laval Separators have revolutionized dairying. All styles and sizes, $50 to $800, farm and factory." "Nearly 500,000 farmers, all over the world, have found a De Laval Cream Separator the best investment they ever made. Send for catalogue and name of local agent if not stamped above."

"Shepard Stern, representing Planters Nut and Chocolate Company, Suffolk, Va., Atlanta, Ga., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Planters Peanuts, 5¢." "Reminder! Order Planters Peanuts. Thank you."