Advertisements, ca. 1740 - ca. 1940

This artificial and still open collection contains printed broadsides, brochures, posters, and other advertising material. Printed processes used include: woodblock printing, engraving, lithography, and photolithography. The majority of the material was produced during the 19th century in New England and the Middle Atlantic states. The most numerous ads are for furniture, clothing and dress, pottery and glassware, and booksellers/stationers. The many illustrations depict products, mechanical design, costume, ethnic groups, commercial architecture, and domestic scenes. A few are printed on objects such as checkerboards, calendars, or paper puzzles and games. Others contain samples of products such as fabric or wood.