Description

Series of illustrated trade cards for products produced by Van Stans Stratena Co. in Philadelphia. One illustration entitled, "Great lecture on Van Stan's Stratena by Julius Augustus Cesar at Ethiopian Hall," contains a racist caricature depicting an African American man standing awkwardly on a stage in front of a desk labeled "Van Stan's Stratena" and lecturing to an audience of distracted African American men. He tells them "one drop of dis yere Stratena on de conscience of a politician will make him stick to his principles. One drop on de marriage certificate will prevent de divorce court from separating you from de wife of your bosom. Do you heah me! Gentlemen I am a talking". Other illustrations include a double-sided metamorphic trade card showing women and children upset when their objects and toys are broken and happy after using Van Stans Stratena to repair them and, on the other side, two men and a woman cringing while taking a dose of cod liver oil, but smiling after taking Van Stan's Emulsion of Cod Liver Oil. Also shows two boys' jackets glued together by Stratena after they sat in it. A boy standing nearby laughs and says, "Ha! ha! ha! No use boys!!! Been sitting in Van Stan's Stratena. Ha! ha! Ha!!"; Another series of illustrations entitled, "Marriage a-la-mode. Matter of money, " "Marriage a-la-mode. The result," and "The marriage of the future," depicts a couple being wed by a man standing under a sign reading "License marriage fee. $1.00" and...

Record Contributed By

The Library Company of Philadelphia

Record Harvested From

PA Digital