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Item Ships From: Pennsylvania
Native American Beadwork Gauntlets with an Chief, ca 1880-90
Located in York County, PA
Native American beadwork gauntlets with Indian Chiefs in feathered headdresses, probably souix, Ca 1880-90
Native American beadwork gauntlet...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Leather
Original Coronation Souvenir Book of King George VI – London 1937
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An original edition of the Coronation Souvenir Book of King Gorge VI 1937 by Gordon Beckles, Published by Daily Express Publication, London, 1937
This edition was published to mark ...
Category
1930s English Georgian Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Paper
House & Garden’s Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, Hardcover Book, 1953
Located in Philadelphia, PA
House & Garden’s Complete Guide to Interior Decoration – Hardcover Book, 1953 Edition.
First published in New York in 1947 by Simon and Schuster, this is the updated 1953 Edition,...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Paper
"Rally Freemen!..." Civil War Recruitment Broadside
Located in York County, PA
"RALLY FREEMEN! …COME ONE! COME ALL! AND SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR THE BEST COUNTRY ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH." A CIVIL WAR RECRUITMENT BROADSIDE FOR THE...
Category
1860s American Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Paper
Vintage Gorham Silver Plated Bronze Bells Women Who Changed History - Set of 6
By Gorham
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Gorham Silver Plated Bronze Bells "Women Who Changed The Course of History" - Set of 6. Set includes Queen Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots, Marie De Medicis, Catherine the ...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Bronze
Hermès Les Clés Vintage Silk Scarf, France
By Hermès
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Hermès Silk Scarf, Les Clés designed by Caty Latham, first issued in 1965.
This ‘Keys’ scarf is an early issue with a Jade green border, and showing interlocking gold keys...
Category
20th Century French International Style Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Silk
Set of 5 Vintage Instructional School Signs
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Set of 5 Instructional Educational School Signs. Show great signs of wear with nice patina! Stand easily and are easy to move around! Fun accent to use ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Metal
Antique WWII Swiss Army 1945 MO-05 Military Bicycle Bike with Leather Frame Pack
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique WWII Swiss Army MO-05 Military Bicycle with Leather Frame Pack. Item featuredis being offered as pictured. Bicycle does seem to function nicely and the tires are holding air....
Category
1940s Arts and Crafts Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Metal
Vintage Printed Tin Dolly Madison Ice Cream Flavor Board
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A hanging Dolly Madison Ice Cream Lithographed Tin Flavor Board, circa late 1940s.
Ice Cream and soda flavor boards were originally displayed in soda fountains and general stores ac...
Category
1940s American American Classical Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Metal
Vintage Brother Webster XL-747 Portable Typewriter Baby Blue with Metal Case
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Brother Webster XL-747 Portable Typewriter Baby Blue with Metal Case, Made in Japan. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: Case; 3" H x 12" W x 12" D.
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Steel
Godey’s Lady’s Book, Leather Bound, Volume LXXX – 1870 Edition
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An 1870 leather bound, hard cover edition of Godey’s Lady’s Book, Volume LXXX published by Louis Antoine Godey.
Godey’s Lady’s Book was a 19th-century American magazine known for i...
Category
Late 19th Century American American Classical Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Leather, Paper
"Equal suffrage for Michigan in 1916" Advertising Fan for the Bissell Company
Located in York County, PA
"EQUAL SUFFRAGE FOR MICHIGAN IN 1916," ADVERTISING FAN FOR THE BISSELL 'CYCO BALL BEARING CARPET SWEEPER,' COMMISSIONED BY ANNA BISSELL (1846-1934), AMERICA'S FIRST FEMALE CEO
Oriental-made, twill-woven silk fan with gilt lettering that reads : "Bissell's 'Cyco Ball Bearing Carpet Sweeper' makes sweeping easy," set within an interesting, open, geometric design. A purposefully curved, paper label beneath was applied by the "Michigan Equal Suffrage Association, Kalamazoo, 405 So. Burdick St.," whose byline is along the bottom. On it, a terrific message reads:
"OVER 100,000 WOMEN pay taxes in Michigan on property assessed at $177,596,938. In 1910 OVER 175,000 MICHIGAN WOMEN signed a petition sent to Congress asking for Equal Suffrage. 247,373 MICHIGAN MEN voted...
Category
1910s American Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Silk
Printed Linen Kerchief of George Washington, ca 1806, Germantown, PA
Located in York County, PA
Extraordinarily early (1806) printed linen kerchief glorifying George Washington, Germantown print works, Germantown, Pennsylvania
Printed in sepia ink on coarse, white linen, this patriotic kerchief shows a standing portrait of George Washington, above which is a swag valance and the words “The Effect of Principle, Behold the Man”. The portrait is based on a mezzotint after Gilbert Stuart’s very famous painting of Washington in his later years. Stuart painted it in oil on canvas for a wealthy merchant by the name of William Constable, who commissioned the work for Alexander Hamilton.
The kerchief is interesting because it is both American-made and documented. This is exceptionally unusual for any printed textile of the 19th century or prior and the earlier the time period the more unlikely an object is to be identified. This kerchief and a companion piece entitled “The Love of Truth Mark the Boy” (also glorifying Washington through the fabled story of the cherry tree), were made ca 1806 by Germantown Print Works in Germantown, Pennsylvania.
To the left of Washington's image is a portion of his infamous farewell address to his troops at the end of the Revolutionary War. To the right is a short excerpt from his eulogy. Below these are three images. In the center is a square-rigged tall ship with “Commercial Union” above it, flanked by the American eagle on the left and the British lion...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Linen
Antique American Flag w/ Hand-Written Inscriptions Mourning the Death of FDR
Located in York County, PA
48 STARS ON ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG WITH HAND-WRITTEN INSCRIPTIONS AND AN EMBROIDERED DATE OF APRIL 12TH, 1945, MOURNING THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT:
American national parade flag with 48 stars, printed on cotton, embellished with hand-written inscriptions and an embroidered date to commemorate the death of FDR on April 12th, 1945.
“On this day in 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died of a massive cerebral hemorrhage at his Warm Springs, Georgia, retreat at the age of 63. Roosevelt’s death in the final months of World War II was met with shock and grief throughout the Western world. Many Americans had no inkling of his decline in health. [He] had been president for more than 12 years, longer than any other person. He led the country through some of its greatest domestic and foreign crises to the impending defeat of Nazi Germany and within sight of Japan’s surrender...
Category
1940s American Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Cotton
Hunt Brother Circus & Wild West Show Three-Sheet Broadside, circa 1900-1910
Located in York County, PA
Three-sheet, narrow, vertical broadside, made to advertise Hunt Brothers Circus and Wild West Show ca 1900-1910. With the bold headlines “Buffalo Ranch”...
Category
Early 20th Century American Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Paper
Antique Canadian Country Primitive Wooden Colonial Spinning Wheel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Canadian Country Primitive Wooden Colonial Spinning Wheel. Item features 22" diameter spinning wheel, working foot pedal, signed "made in Canada" to underside, great patina s...
Category
Early 20th Century Canadian Primitive Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Wood
Staffordshire Oriental Tooth Paste Lidded Pot, circa 1880
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An Oriental Toothpaste pot, Staffordshire, England, circa 1880.
Transfer printed in black on a creamy white earthenware, the base and the sides of the lid are printed in a pattern o...
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Earthenware
Ohio State Parade Flag with a Civil War Veterans Overprint
Located in York County, PA
OHIO STATE FLAG WITH CIVIL WAR VETERANS' OVERPRINT FROM THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC POST IN COLUMBUS, MADE IN MOURNING OF THE 1925 PASSING OF NATIONAL G.A.R. COMMANDER IN CHIEF DANIEL M. HALL, WHO ALSO SERVED AS COMMANDER OF THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF THE G.A.R., AS WELL AS THE LOCAL CHAPTER
Flag of the State of Ohio, printed on oilcloth-like cotton, affixed to its original wooden staff. Made for Civil War veteran's use, the flag bears a stamped overprint in the striped field that consists of an open wreath of laurel branches, inside which is the following text: “GAR [Grand Army of the Republic] Post, Dan Hall, Columbus, OH”.
Born on October 20th, 1842, Daniel M. Hall enlisted with the Union Army as a Private at the age of 18 on August 25th, 1861. On October 8th of that year he mustered into the Co. H of the 2nd Ohio Cavalry. Discharged for disability on June 28th, 1862, he reenlisted approximately 17 months later, on November 11th, 1863, and mustered into Co. F of the 12th Ohio Cavalry at Camp Cleveland. He was at some point promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and, on February 21st, 1864, to the rank of Corporal. He mustered out at Nashville on November 14th, 1865.
Hall mustered into the Hamlin Post of the Ohio G.A.R. on May 23rd, 1883. He would go on to serve not only as Commander of the Dept. of Ohio for the organization, but as National Commander of the entire Grand Army of the Republic.
The Grand Army of the Republic was the primary veterans association for Union Civil War soldiers. Founded in 1866, its members dressed up in Civil War uniforms, attended parades and reunions, and the organization was somewhat more fraternal in nature than today’s VFW or American Foreign Legion.
Flags overprinted for the purpose of advertising are a specialized form in American flag collecting. A flag with a basic G.A.R. overprint is the most common type. This might be accompanied by a post number and a date. More elaborate the overprints are more highly desired, such as this one, which is the only variation I know of that honors a particular person who was not the namesake of the chapter itself.
It is of interest to note that a sister variety of 48 star parade flag is known, printed on the same fabric, that bears the same overprint, accompanied by the words: “We Mourn Our Comrade." From the additional text on the 48 star variety, one can extrapolate that the flags were made to mourn the passing of this important leader of Civil War veterans on October 19th, 1925, just one day before his 83rd birthday.
The State Flag of Ohio was designed in 1901 by Cleveland architect John Eisenmann, who designed the Ohio building for the state's exhibition at the Pan American Exposition World's Fair in Buffalo, New York. It was officially adopted by the Ohio legislature on May 19th, 1902. It's elements are centered on a red disc, set against a circular white ground that forms a letter "O." This simultaneously represents a buckeye, the fruit of the state tree and an iconic Ohio symbol. The flag's 5 stripes are said to represent the state's waterways and roads, while the triangular shape of the union is said to illustrate hills and valleys. The presentation of 13 stars along the hoist end, arranged in a semi-circular medallion with two off-set stars above and below, reflects the original 13 colonies. The diamond of stars, towards the fly end. bring the overall count to 17 to reflect Ohio's admission. When the design was adopted by the state legislature, the position of these stars was changed slightly, moving them further around the circle to form a wreath.
Flag expert Whitney Smith, who coined the term Vexillology in the late 1950's (the accepted term for the study of flags), pointed out that the format of the flag itself was reminiscent of Civil War cavalry guidons, carried by Ohio regiments throughout the state. These were of swallowtail form, though with 13 stripes, all horizontal and 90 degrees to the hoist. Most often these had circular star patterns around an open center, which makes them even more similar to the Ohio flag...
Category
1920s American Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Cotton
Cathrineholm Midcentury Scandinavian Modern Lotus Enamel Blue/White Dutch Oven
By Grete Prytz Kittelsen, Catherineholm
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An enamelware Lotus pattern Dutch oven manufactured by the Norwegian manufacturer Cathrineholm. Cathrineholm operated from 1907-1970. The popular Lotus line...
Category
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Steel
1900s French Green L'Ideale Canning Preserve Jars W/ Lithograph Seed Labels S/4
By L'Ideale
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Found in France, a set of four, large glass canning preserve jars with chromolithographed labels for vegetable seeds, circa early 1900s.
The jars were repurposed for storing veget...
Category
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Glass, Paper
Large Slag Glass Green Chunk Natural Specimen Rock 45 Pound Stone Garden Element
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Large Slag Glass Green Chunk Natural Specimen Rock Approx 45 Pound Stone Garden Element. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 7" H x 18" W x 10" D.
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Glass
The Hummel Gold Christmas Ornament Collection Box Set of 36 in Box
By Hummel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage The Hummel Gold Christmas Ornament Collection Box Set of 36 in Box. Item features (36) pieces, all in original boxes with paperwork. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: Ea...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Other Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Metal
Red and Black FDR's Fala Scotty Dog American Glass Pitcher, circa 1930-1940
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A charming Pre midcentury pitcher, American clear glass, circa late 1930s-early 1940s. The Scotty dog glass collectible craze began when President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Scottish Te...
Category
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Glass
NYC Metropolitan Opera Opening Night Brass Ticket Key Chain, 1981
Located in Philadelphia, PA
NYC Metropolitan Opera Opening Night Brass Ticket Key Chain,
Lowell Sigmund, 1981
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Brass
1930s Moorman Farm Feeds Cast Iron Anatomical Pig Salesman Sample Figure
Located in Lancaster, PA
This rare cast iron pig was produced by the Moorman Manufacturing Company of Quincy, Illinois, as a traveling salesman’s sample in the 1930s. Designed to open on a central hinge, the...
Category
1930s American Industrial Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Metal
University of Pennsylavania Vintage Pennant by Collegiate Ames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
University of Pennsylavania
Vintage Pennant
by Collegiate Ames
"in good vintage conditions"
"size does not include tassels"
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Felt
Red & Black FDR's Fala Scotty Dog American Glass Ice Bowl, circa 1930-1940
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A charming pre midcentury ice bucket or ice bowl, American clear glass, circa late 1930s-early 1940s. The Scotty dog glass collectible craze began when President Franklin D. Roosevel...
Category
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Glass
Antique 19th C. Cast Iron Classical Figural Dolphin Victorian Book Press
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique 19th C. Cast Iron Classical Figural Dolphin Victorian Book Press. Item features Intricate supports with dolphins and fluted columns, acanthus accented base, substantial and h...
Category
19th Century Victorian Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Iron
Antiques Oxford Pennant, 1913
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Oxford Vintage Pennant, 1913
"in good vintage conditions"
"some small holes in the felt"
"great color and graphic"
"size does not include tassels"
Category
1910s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Felt
Historical American Civil War Era Wire Frame Magnifying Eye Glass Spectacles
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A delicate pair of handmade magnifying wire rim eye glasses from the American Civil War era, circa 1860.
A great looking historical conversation p...
Category
Mid-19th Century American American Classical Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Metal
1940s Maple Conveyor Belt Room Screen
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Industrial 1940s conveyor belt room screen made up of wood slats with rounded ends. Entire screen connected with canvas and rivets. Stands up very easily...
Category
1940s American Industrial Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Maple
Vtg David White Instrument Co Surveying Equipment Plane Utility Level Oak Case
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage David White Instrument Co surveying equipment plane utility level in oak case. Has not been tested. Item features a
plane utility level, original oak case. Circa early to m...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Metal
Bronze Plaque w Eagle Logo The Fraternal Order of Eagles
Located in New York, NY
Early 20th Century rectangular cast bronze wall plaque from Steubenville of "The Fraternal Order of Eagles". Please note, this item is located in our Scranton, PA location.
Category
Early 20th Century American Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Bronze
Historical Civil War Era Brass Frame Ladies Magnifying Glasses
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A delicate pair of handmade brass ladies magnifying wire rim eye glasses from the American Civil War era, circa 1860.
A unique pair of antique spectacles, cleverly designed with ext...
Category
Mid-19th Century American American Classical Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Brass
Suffragette Plate, "Deeds Not Words" & "Votes for Women", The Only Known Example
Located in York County, PA
ENGLISH PORCELAIN SUFFRAGETTE PLATE WITH "DEEDS, NOT WORDS" AND "VOTES FOR WOMEN" SLOGANS, ONE-OF-A-KIND AMONG KNOWN EXAMPLES, CA 1905-1918
English porcelain plate, made for the Women's Suffrage movement in the U.K. One-of-a-kind among presently known examples, this wonderful Arts & Crafts design features a green, frog-like pattern around the border, surrounding violet and green or daisies, on a polka dot green background. Interspersed between the flowers are the words "Votes for Women" and, in Latin, the phrase "Facta non Verba...
Category
Early 20th Century English Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Porcelain
Rudi Gernreich Girls Knit Monokini Bandeau Top Bathing Suit, circa 1964
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An original girls sized 6X monokini with a bandeau top bathing suit designed by Rudi Gernreich, circa 1964.
Rudi Gernreich was an American Designer born in Austria, Vienna in 1922 ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Fabric
Staffordshire Areca Nut Tooth Paste Lidded Pot, circa 1880
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An Areca Nut Toothpaste pot, Staffordshire, England, circa 1880.
Transfer printed in black on a creamy white earthenware, Areca Nut toothpaste was a popular product formulated by ch...
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Earthenware
Hermès Philippe LeDoux Menège Vintage Silk Equestrian Scarf
By Hermès
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From the French fashion house, Hermès, a vintage silk scarf from the Manège line, circa 1974.
Designed by Philippe Ledoux for Hermès in 1974, this an early vintage of a classic is...
Category
20th Century French International Style Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Silk
Odd Fellow / Mason Pearlware Lustre Painted Plate – b
By Sunderland
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A scarce Odd Fellow or Mason themed Pearlware plate, from the Staffordshire region of England, attributed to Sunderland Potteries, circa 1820 – 1830.
One of a pair, this is plate B....
Category
Early 19th Century English Romantic Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Pearlware
Antique 1930s Remington Noiseless Model 6 Black Typewriter
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique 1930s Remington Noiseless Model 6 Typewriter. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 9" H x 16" W x 15" D.
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Iron
"Roosevelt & Garner" Embroidered Armband Supporting the 1932 Democratic Ticket
Located in York County, PA
"ROOSEVELT & GARNER", AN EMBROIDERED ARMBAND SUPPORTING THE 1932 DEMOCRAT PRESIDENTIAL TICKET AND THE REPEAL OF PROHIBITION
Made for the 1932 Democratic presidential Campaign ticke...
Category
1930s American Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Cotton
Brooke Cadwallader Carnival Mid-Century Era Silk Scarf, 1947-1950
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Brooke Cadwallader Silk Scarf, The Carnival Print – 1947-1950
Brooke Cadwallader was a well-known printed textile designer of the mid-20th century...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Silk
Early 19th Century Framed French Miniature Portrait, Woman in Lace Cap & Collar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An early 19th century French hand-painted miniature portrait, framed under glass, portraying an older woman wearing a lace bonnet and a floral dress with a lace collar, reflecting th...
Category
Early 19th Century French French Provincial Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Natural Fiber
Odd Fellow / Mason Pearlware Lustre Painted Plate – a
By Sunderland
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A scarce Odd Fellow or Mason themed Pearlware plate, from the Staffordshire region of England, attributed to Sunderland Potteries, circa 1820 – 1830.
One of a pair, this is plate A....
Category
Early 19th Century English Romantic Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Pearlware
1930s Sweet Orr Pants Shirts & Overalls N.O.S. Porcelain General Store Sign.
Located in Lancaster, PA
A rare original 1930s Sweet-Orr porcelain sign features the iconic three-man tug-of-war graphic, with bold "UNION MADE" text. Designed for general store & mercantile display, this un...
Category
1930s American Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Metal
Franco-American Textile with the Image of an Eagle Holding the American and Flag
Located in York County, PA
Franco-American textile with the image of an eagle supporting knotted and draped american and French flags beneath four war planes; embroidered silk floss and metallic bullion thread...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Silk
Leather Fireman's Parade Belt
Located in York County, PA
Leather fireman's parade belt with the word "LIBERTY in white on a red ground, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, circa 1900
This fireman's parade belt is of the type produced during the latter part of the 19th century, between roughly 1870 and 1900. Made of leather, the body of the belt is black. In the center is a recessed window, with a fancifully scalloped edge, behind which a red leather panel, upon which the word "Liberty" appears in raised, white letters. There is a white binding, it's edge trimmed with pinking shears to create a decorative border. The metal buckle fits into an opposing leather strap, small in scale and riveted beneath the outer one.
The words that appear on fireman's parade belts were customized, sometimes displaying the title of the wearer (i.e., "chief" or "clerk"), sometimes the name of the city or town, and sometimes the name of the station, as-is the case in this instance.
Attributed to Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania (Columbia County), I acquired it about 25 miles southwest, in adjacent Union County. Bloomsburg's first fire house, Friendship Fire Company, was established in 1868, shortly following the Civil War. Like most volunteer departments of that time, it was staffed by returning Union soldiers who volunteered, enjoying the comradery. Three more would follow, including Rescue Hose & Ladder (1870), Winona (1881), and Liberty Fire Company (1900). In the early 1990's the process was begun to modernize and consolidate all four stations into one. Liberty's fire house still stands on the 100 block of Leonard Street.
Probably made in the year the Liberty Fire Company was established, for related parades and festivities, the great thing about this belt is the combination of the wonderful, early, painted surface and the terrific verbiage. While words such as "Clerk," "Bloomsburg," or "Rescue" would have limited appeal, the word "Liberty" opens the playing field to a nation-wide audience. Fire memorabilia...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Leather
Vintage Tom Sturgis Pretzels Large Tin Metal Red Advertising Can
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Tom Sturgis Pretzels Large Tin Metal Red Advertising Can. Circa Early to Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 12.5" H x 12.5" Diameter.
Category
Early 20th Century Country Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Metal
Frank Lloyd Wright Autograph & Associated Memorabilia - Beth Sholom
By Frank Lloyd Wright
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An autograph and associated memorabilia.
A framed autograph from Frank Lloyd Wright.
With a series of Philadelphia Inquirer articles on the Beth Sholom Synagogue, and an program fr...
Category
1950s American Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Paper
19th Century French Framed Miniature Portrait, Buxom Woman in Blue Bonnet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An early 19th century French hand-painted miniature portrait framed under glass, portraying an older woman wearing a bonnet tied with a blue ribbon, her ample bosom showing in a blue...
Category
Early 19th Century French French Provincial Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Natural Fiber
Terracotta Portrait Plaque of a Nobleman with Order of the Garter
Located in Downingtown, PA
Continental Terracotta Plaque,
Early 19th Century
The large painted plaque depicts a view of the left side torso of a Continental Nobleman wearing the British Order of the Garter...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Terracotta
Important Linocut Print and Unique Biographical Documents for Eduard Ulreich
By Eduard Buk Ulreich
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Both a unique work of art and an extraordinary historical document, this print and group of documents were created by Eduard Buk Ulreich, best known as a muralist for Radio City Musi...
Category
1960s American Art Deco Vintage Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
48 Star Crocheted Homemade American Flag, WWII Era, 1941-1945
Located in York County, PA
48 star, crocheted, antique american flag of the wwii era (1941-1945), a beautiful, homemade example, with a red, white, & blue hoist and flower-like stars:
Crocheted American flag of the WWII era (U.S. involvement 1941-1945), with some interesting and beautiful features. Made entirely of cotton, the flag’s most notable attribute is the red, white, and blue color of its hoist. This was carefully stitched to the canton and the striped field with white cotton floss or yarn. The 48 crocheted stars are appliquéd to a length of navy blue plain weave cotton. With pierced centers, note how these more closely resemble flowers than stars, tipped this way and that on their vertical axis. Large, with respect to the canton on which they are placed, note how these crowd their boundaries and overlap into the field.
The elongated format of the flag is also of interest and contributes to the bold presentation, as do the strong colors. Most crocheted flags are smaller than this one, or date to a much later period (namely the 1976...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Cotton
1840 Campaign Kerchief of William Henry Harrison on Horseback
Located in York County, PA
1840 campaign kerchief featuring an image of William Henry Harrison on horseback in military garb, one of the first known campaign textiles in e...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Cotton
13 Star American Parade Flag with Rare Design, circa 1888 Ex Richard Pierce
Located in York County, PA
13 Star American parade flag in an extremely rare design, with “protection to home industries” slogan on a fanciful, scrolling streamer, made for the 1888 presidential campaign of Benjamin Harrison; formerly in the collection of Richard pierce.
1888 Benjamin Harrison campaign flag, printed on cotton, with 13 large stars in a 3-2-3-2-3 pattern, upon which a whimsical, scrolling streamer is superimposed that features the slogan: “Protection to Home Industries.”
There are numerous styles of both documented and undocumented, red, white, and blue bandanas and handkerchiefs, made for Harrison’s campaign in this year, as well as from the subsequent one, in 1892. Most bear variations of text to support the “Protection for American Industries” platform of the Republican Party. America was in the midst of the industrial age and there was a great deal of public interest, both in protecting growth and discouraging both imported goods and immigration. The constant stream of immigrants posed great challenges for a working families, competing for scarce jobs, in work environments that were already often far from ideal. In post-Civil War America, many of the working men were Civil War veterans.
Bandanas abound from Harrison’s Campaigns, but flags do not. This example, along with three others, were once part of an 1888 patriotic quilt that was disassembled by a dealer and sold piecemeal to collectors. I eventually acquired all four. Fifteen to twenty years ago, these were the only four known copies. A couple of others have since surfaced, but the total count known still stands closer to 5 than 10.
The use of 13 stars is seen in the flags of various candidates in the 19th century. Among these are Abraham Lincoln (1860 campaign), Henry Clay (1844 campaign), John Fremont (1856), and Benjamin Harrison’s grandfather, William Henry Harrison...
Category
1880s American Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Cotton
Commission Pennant with 13 Stars, like for Private Vessel, Ca 1892-1910
Located in York County, PA
Commission pennants are the distinguishing mark of a commissioned U.S. Navy ship. Flown at the topmast, the typical American format is a long blue field, usually with a single row of white stars, although sometimes with their total divided into two rows, followed by two long stripes, red-over-white. A ship became commissioned when this pennant was hoisted. Flown during both times of peace and war, the only time the pennant is not flown is if a flag officer or civilian official was aboard and replaced it with their own flag.
Sometimes the owners of private ships mimicked the use of Navy signals. Some seafaring men would have served in the Navy and become privy to various practices in that capacity. Others flew them purely for stylistic reasons, either on a regular basis or while the boat was dressed for special occasion. Hudson River steamers regularly flew pennants of this nature, as evidenced by period photography as well as the paintings of artists such as John and James Bard...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Wool
38 Star Antique Flag, Stars in Double Wreath Pattern, Colorado Statehood 1876-89
Located in York County, PA
38 STAR ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG WITH A DOUBLE-WREATH CONFIGURATION THAT FEATURES AN ENORMOUS CENTER STAR, REFLECTS THE PERIOD OF COLORADO STATEHOOD, 1876-1889:
38 star American national flag, made entirely of plain weave cotton. The stars are arranged in a medallion configuration. This features an enormous center star, surrounded by two wreaths of much smaller stars, with a flanking star in each corner of the blue canton. The sort of disparity here, present in the scale of the large star, versus those around it, is both exceptionally unusual and graphically dynamic.
Colorado became the 38th state on August 1st, 1876. This was the year of our nation’s centennial. Per the Third Flag Act of 1818, stars were not officially added until the 4th of July following a state's addition. For this reason, 37 remained the official star count for the American flag until part way through the following year. Flag-making was a competitive venture, however, and few flag-makers would have continued to produce 37 star flags when their competitors were making 38’s. Many flag-makers added a 38th star before Colorado entered the Union, in the early part of 1876, or possibly even prior. In fact, many makers of printed flags, called parade flags or hand-wavers, were actually producing flags in the 39 star count, in hopeful anticipation of the addition of two more Western Territories instead of one.
It is for these reasons that 38, 39, and 13 stars, to representing the original 13 colonies, are most often seen on flags displayed at the Centennial International Exhibition. Hosted in Philadelphia, this enormous event was our nation’s first World’s Fair, lasted for a duration of six months, and served as the nucleus of celebrations held to honor America’s 100-year anniversary of independence. The 38 star flag became official on July 4th, 1877 and was generally used until the 39th state was added in November of 1889.
This is probably a homemade flag, though sewn by a very skilled hand, or possibly, by two different individuals. The stripes are pieced and sewn entirely by hand, with remarkable care and precision. The canton is constructed of two lengths of blue fabric, that have been joined with treadle stitching. This was joined to the striped field by hand. The stars are double-appliquéd (applied to both sides) with treadle stitching. There is a treadle-sewn, cotton binding along the hoist, with five, hand-sewn grommets.
It is extremely unusual to encounter this combination of sewing methods. Soon after the sewing machine was mass-marketed, in the mid-1850’s, flag-makers both public and private made good use of treadle machines, to join stripes, when constructing American flags. During the Civil War (1861-65), most stripes were treadle-sewn. Stars were another matter. Until the advent of electric machines...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Cotton
Colorado State Flag, Made of Silk, circa 1911-1920
Located in York County, PA
COLORADO STATE FLAG OF EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, MADE OF SILK, CIRCA 1911-1920’s, EXTRAORDINARILY RARE IN THIS PERIOD AND THE EARLIEST EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED
Early state flags are few and far between. While I am asked for them constantly, most states did not actually have official flags until the 20th century.
On May 6th, 1911, Colorado became among the last to adopt a design. The project of doing so was spearheaded by the Denver Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The bill was introduced by Senator W.H. Sharply and adopted by the Eighteenth General Assembly. The artwork was the product of A.C. [Andrew Carlisle] Carson, President of the Ohio Society of Colorado. The meanings behind the elements in the design are as follows: The large letter "C" stands for Colorado and simultaneously for the Centennial State (Colorado entered the Union in 1876, the year in which our nation celebrated its 100th anniversary of independence), as well as the Columbine State (reflecting the state flower). The red color is included due to the fact that the word Colorado translates to scarlet or red in Spanish. The circle represents the sun, while the gold color symbolizes all-the-year sunshine, Colorado’s status as the greatest gold state, and one Columbine color. It was also included so that the Colorado state flag would have one more color than the U.S. flag. The color white reflects Colorado’s status as the greatest silver state, its eternal mountain snow, and one Columbine color. Lastly, the shade of Yale blue symbolizes all-the-year blue sky and one Columbine Color. Members of the D.A.R. were proud to note that this was also their color.
Made sometime between the initial year of the adoption of this design and the 1920’s, this particular flag is the earliest Colorado example that I have ever encountered. The blue and white bars, red “C,” and golden circle are a’’ made of silk taffeta. This was a costly fabric, reserved for the best material a flag-maker produced. The flag is constructed in the manner of a battle flag, to be carried on foot. Squarish in its overall profile, silk was the fabric of choice for flags employed in this function, due to the fact that it was light weight, and thus practical for hand-carrying, while simultaneously formal in appearance, appropriate for the sort of ceremonial use that military presentation often demands. The style of the hoist is also typical for field or parade use. Here the fabric was rolled over to form an open sleeve, through which a wooden staff could be inserted. The sleeve is lined on the interior with black cotton. Leather tabs, at the top and bottom, fit over metal posts on the staff, designed to accept them, to fix the flag in its proper position.
The bars were pieced and joined with lineal machine stitching. The hoist and fly ends were finished and hemmed by the same method. The devices are double-appliquéd (applied to both sides) with a machine buttonhole / blanket stitch. Though machines that produced buttonholes were, remarkably, available alongside the earliest standard machines, in the 1850’s and 60’s, the use of this sort of stitch in a running format, for appliqué work, remained highly unusual, even as late as the first half of the twentieth century, probably because it used a ton of thread when compared to the zigzag or satin stitch. It could be expected to appear more often in the hands of a maker of very fine flags, that employed embroidery machines and commissioned custom, fancy work of all sorts. Though unsigned—in no way uncommon in early examples, which were seldom signed—that is precisely the sort of firm that produced the Colorado flag...
Category
Early 20th Century American Pennsylvania Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Silk
