Time is on the Wing - Birds in Advertising - Part 2

Thus, like the miller, bold and free, let us rejoice and sing;

The days of youth are made for glee, and time is on the wing ; 

The first card is a very early engraved calling card, probably circa 1840, so it's not really an advertisement.  But I suppose you could say that calling cards are really a form of personal advertisement. In any case, this one says Time is on the Wing, and there's something very beautiful about its simplicity. Once there was a name written underneath, but it's impossible to read now.

The words are from The Miller of Dee, a traditional folk song. You can read the full lyrics here.

The second card advertises Carters Little Liver Pills, available at Heyne Druggist in Syracuse, New York. Heyne had many beautiful trade cards in the 1880s.

And this card is a rarity, because it's a trade card with a bird on it that's actually advertising a novelty and bird store, Stinard's, also of Syracuse, New York.

More cards from Syracuse, New York. These are from George C. Young & Brothers.

The back of this next card is more interesting than the front, also from a merchant in Syracuse, Kenyon, Potter & Company.

And now for some gratuitous eggs. If you didn't see Birds in Advertising-Part I, you can click here to see it.

Birds in Advertising - Part 1

It's not often that you see birds used in advertising anymore, but back in the 1880s birds were common in advertisements for all things unrelated to birds, everything from dry goods and shoes to liver pills and throat lozenges. The businesses hoped that people would collect the beautiful cards and remember their business that way.

The first one is from American Breakfast Cereals.

 

Then there are these beautiful cards from Solomon Rosenbloom & Sons, shoe dealers in Syracuse, New York. I highly recommend this blog post about the Rosenblooms and Daniel Rosenbloom's house on a blog called My Central New York. Samuel Gruber, the blog's host, has conducted thorough research, included a number of interesting photos, and writes a compelling story.

The last trade card from Liberman & Stevenson, also of Syracuse, take a different approach to advertising, emphasizing humor instead of beauty.

More birds in Part 2, coming soon.