Bookmark for Tad Lincoln written by Wayne Whipple

Book and publishing house advertisements certainly come in all shapes and sizes. Calendars, broadsides, pamphlets, envelopes etc. are all part of the ephemera landscape. Here is something I have not shown before-a bookmark.
This bookmark promotes the Tad Lincoln book written by Wayne Whipple and published by George Sully and Company. The bookmark dates to 1926.


Wayne Whipple was the author of numerous books. He wrote seven different series (http://waynewhipple.com/wwseries.html) including the American History Makers and Patriotic Series both published by Altemus as well as the Radio Boy Series and the Bill Brown Series. He penned ten non-series books three of which were Lincoln related.( http://waynewhipple.com/wwnonseries.html)

Among his accomplishments include designing the Peace Flag. This flag won a national contest circa 1912. It was the best of 500 entries submitted and was selected by William Taft. Regardless of the contest results, Whipple's flag never replaced old glory and has been relegated to the footnote pile of forgettable trivia.

Peck's Bad Boy Plays- Ephemera

George W. Peck authored the Peck's Bad Boy books. The books which were incredibly popular spawned movies, sponsorships for cigar companies and fishing gear, board games, and among other things, a very popular play.



The Peck's Bad Boy play was produced over approximately a 30 year period from the early 1880's to around 1910. Charles Felton Pidgin wrote the musical play (adapted from the Peck's Bad Boy stories) which formed the basis for the Atkinson Comedy Company's production. Atkinson's play was certainly the most prevalent during these years. A number of other production companies both with and without licenses from the play's owner, Charles Albert Shaw, also did the play.


Each year the play would cut a swath through a territory and play at local theaters from week to week. The actors would generally stay the same for a season but frequently there would be changes from season to season. This was also true of the script which would be changed sometimes based on the region where the play was being held. Musical scores were changed as well.


I have seen posters, broadsides, banners, cards and numerous other types of material which advertised the upcoming play in an area. The large full color posters are perhaps the nicest Peck's ephemera . These posters which were produced by the Enterprise Lithograph Company from Cleveland are very difficult to find in decent shape.

I thought I would show some of this ephemera here today.

Porter and Coates Calendar trade card 1880

Here is an interesting little advertising calendar trade card. Porter and Coates has been discussed perviously on June 7, 2009 when a stereoview card of the interior of its store was reviewed.

Here is an advertising piece from 1880. It is my belief that calendar advertisements were frequently used by publishers (and other businesses) in this era. The trick is just to find them.