1851 – An impressive multicolor two-page broadsheet for one of the preeminent hat companies in New York

New York City, 1851. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This two-page advertising broadsheet measures 17” x 10.5” unfolded. It was sent from the Swift, Hurlbut, & Company at 207 Pearl Street in New York City to Joseph A. Johnson , a Madisonville, Tennessee merchant. It bears a circular red New York “Paid” postmark and an additional manuscript “paid” annotation. In nice shape.

The front of the broadsheet, printed on blue paper, features a 2.75” x 4.25” sepia illustration of the company’s four-story New York City storefront with red and black text in a variety of fonts and sizes.

The inside page advertises Buffalo Robes and various types of hats including Broad Brim, Angola, California Fur, Hungarian Fur, Jenny Lind, Kossuth, Negro Wool, Silk Plush, Glazed Silk, Oiled Silk, Glazed Lawn, Panama, Leghorn, and Palm Leaf.

. Scarce. While the company is referenced in several newspaper advertisements and listed in a Smithsonian list of New York merchants, this appears to be the only surviving broadside. None are for sale in the trade. The Rare Book Hub shows none have appeared at auction, and OCLC shows none are held in institutional collections.
An impressive early multi-color mail-marketing broadsheet circular.

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