THE EPHEMERA OF BUSINESS

1834 billhead for Lumsden & Elsmie teas dealers and grocers, wine, spirit and fruit merchants of 95 Union Street Aberdeen Scotland . Double scrolls which list more products the firm sells: pickles, fish, sauces, spiceries, wax and sperm candles, curious old brandy, French liqueurs, segars, and fancy snuffs. Wonderful center engraving of a harbor scene. Two ships sit in the foreground, one a large merchant ship and a much smaller boat. Background shows spires, a lighthouse and other buildings. Engraved by S. Leith . Items purchased by Alex Cochrane, Esq. were 1 dozen fine port and 1 dozen London Brown Stout. There is also a handwritten note that the “bottles to be returned.” In Pigot & Co.’s National Commercial Directory of Scotland 1837, John Lumsden located at 95 Union Street is listed as a grocer, wine & spirit merchant and ship owner. William Elsmie is listed as a grocer and tea dealer at 189 Gallowgate. LEITH , Samuel lithographic pr...

Thomas Calvert was born to well-to-do parents in Yorkshire England on February 10, 1828, and was educated at Scarborough grammar school. At the age of 19 he entered the employ of George Hudson, the railway king of London . After one year with Hudson he accepted a position at a bank. In 1849 he came to the U.S. locating in Philadelphia and worked for the Pennsylvania Central Railway Co. While working for the railway, he bought an interest in George Cook & Co., engravers and color printers. Due to health concerns, his physician recommended he move to Minnesota , selling his interest in the firm. At Minnesota , he worked in the lumber business from 1853 to 1858. In 1858, he lost nearly everything he had – chiefly lumber and logs. In 1859, his health having improved, he moved back east and settled in Buffalo where he worked for Sage & Co. In the early 1860s, Calvert moved to Detroit Michigan and entered a partnership with John Gibson, a lithographer a...

In honor of the French Open, here are a view examples of billheads with tennis themes. For you tennis lovers out there - can you believe Federer lost?! Enjoy the billheads!

The firm’s history can be traced back to Charles Athearn of Buffalo who established the Chas. Athearn & Co. in 1847 which was located at 259 East Water Street . Cyrus Adams was the manager of a little store located at 420 East Water Street . Athearn never came to Milwaukee and on his death in 1854 his firm was sold to Adams which continued the business under the name C. Adams & Co. until 1860 when Francis F. Adams purchased his brother Cyrus’ interest (Cyrus went to California) and continued the business under the name F.F. Adams & Co. Francis was described as a sharp, keen business man. In 1884, the business was averaging $1 million a year. F.F. Adams’s tobacco factory was called the Badger State Tobacco Works. The favorite brands manufactured by the firm were, in smoking tobacco: Peerless, Excelsior, Standard, Dexter, and Old Tom; and in chewing tobacco, Aromatic, Moss Rose, Pride of the West, and Ambrosia. At some point Henry Avers becomes involved with the firm ...

Commercial lithography in Wisconsin centered around Milwaukee area where it began in 1852 when Henry Seifert established a plant. Seifert would soon be joined by the Guglers and Jacob Knauber, as the early lithographers of Milwaukee . Jacob Knauber (1846-1905) headed the firm of J. Knauber Lithographing Company from 1867 until his death. Knauber was born in Heidelburg Germany in 1846 and died in Milwaukee in 1905. He became a lithographer and engraver in Milwaukee heading his own firm J. Knauber Lithographing Company from 1867 until his death. He was apprenticed to a lithographer in St Louis at the age of 15. The firm would be incorporated in 1888. Knauber had three sons who also worked at the firm, Arthur, Walter and Richard.

I originally had this group of billheads categorized as "banners" but after looking at all of the banner group I realized that there was a distinct difference. I have decided to label these billheads as ribbons. I know, a sideways award ribbon, but a ribbon nonetheless. I will show off the banners - which typically are wavy and lack the circle top of the ribbon. Notice too that all of these examples are very artistic too.

My choice this month is a recent purchase of mine on ebay uk. Now let’s hope the dollar keeps its rise against the pound so I can buy more!! 1829 billhead for Robert Kell manufacturer of wax, spermaceti and tallow candles – it appears the firm had a Royal Warrant of Appointment for the royal family and also supplied candles to the Bank of England. Lovely royal graphic of a lion and unicorn in the upper center. Also has nice decorative header. The firm was located at No. 5. Strand near Northumberland House. Engraved by Silvester also located at 27 The purchaser is listed as Mrs. Orde. Some tidbits: He served as a juror for the trial of De Sellis, a valet, who was charged with the attempted murder of the Duke of Cumberland Ernest Augustus. Rumor has it though that the Duke himself murdered De Sellis. Richard W. Silvester, London . Engraved a lot of bookplates. Earliest appearance in a London directory is 1806. John Quincy Adams received a seal engraved by Silveste...