So I went to the “unknown” album to try and find some new examples to post and try to find out who the publisher was. Maybe by just talking and posting about them I’ll magically find them. Or someone may help me.
There are several sets that share the same characteristics that I have in some binders and I am pretty sure they are from the same lithographer. There is another set that may also be related but had enough differences to save it for another day.
As always, the cards are 2 1/2 x 4 inches with blank backs. I have not seen any of these with advertising overprint but it could happen!
The first one is from a set of flowers (all in bloom). Well done artwork and these sets are distinctive as they all have overprinted brown backgrounds and white, thick, all upper case font. That may end up helping us down the line.
A couple of things about the butterfly cards. The drawing is a bit crudely done but overall the amount of lithographic stones to produce that many colors is quite admirable.
The spice plants are ones that I’ve been able to pick up on several occasions, though none came with any helpful information as to their origin. I have at least 6 different of these. Without giving away the lithographer, I’m curious to match up the fonts with this card (not sure, just seem somewhat similar).
This card is from 1876, several years after I believe the others are from. I just want to see the font on the big screen below the ginger plant.
I think the fonts are similar enough to start hunting down evidence that this lithographer made album cards of this style. I know that he did jobs for some of the bigger houses but is reputed to have made his own, though I’ve seen no physical or electronic evidence.
Will follow up if I find anything.
