Fantastic, original, 1890\'s, Chromolithographed Advertising Sign for \"Spear Head Plug Tobacco\" featuring 15 Palmer Cox “Brownies” flying a hot air balloon!! This wonderful, Palmer Cox Brownies Tobacco Advertising Sign measures 11” square (including full, original margins) and is printed on a paperboard stock.
The Sign features a wonderful, chromolithographed image of a wide array of various Palmer Cox Brownie Characters scrambling atop and in the basket of a Hot Air balloon. On the ground we see other Brownies carrying ladders to the top of a windmill in what appears to be an attempt to reach the balloon. The Balloon carries a large red \"Spear Head\" (the Trade Mark of P.J. Sorg Co.’s “Spear Head Plug Tobacco”) and there is text on the device that reads “Spear Head / The P.J. Sorg Co.”. Further text at the lower left hand corner of the Sign reads “Chew Spear Head Plug” and text below this reads \"The P. J. Sorg Co. Middletown, Ohio\".
Although the Sign is not dated, we know that the Palmer Cox Brownies first appeared around 1894 and that P. J. Sorg Co. was absorbed by the American Tobacco Company shortly after the turn of the 20th century. The Sign is not marked by the lithographer but a number of years ago we had a similar Spear Head Tobacco Sign depicting the Brownies in a yacht race that did carry the mark of the lithographer \"George S. Harris & Sons, Phila”.
This charming and whimsical, 1890’s Palmer Cox Brownie / Spear Head Plug Tobacco Advertising Sign is not a reproduction, reissue or restrike but is an original Sign manufactured by George S. Harris & Sons in the late 19th century for the P. J. Sorg Company and used to promote their line of “Spear Head Plug” Chewing Tobacco”.
The wonderful, 1890’s Chromolithograph, Paperboard Advertising Sign is in very good condition - the colors are bright and vibrant and the Sign is quite clean and displays beautifully. There are no tears, repairs or significant physical damage to the Sign - it has not been trimmed or altered in any way. There is some light edge wear and light and small corner creases at the bottom corners as well as a single, very short edge tear at the center of the left hand edge affecting the margin area only. It appears that there was originally a metal grommet in the factory hanger hole at the top center that was carefully removed a very long time ago. The back side of the Sign has some pencil markings and spots of staining. There is some minor soiling and some light but overall foxing to the surface (see the scans below) however the Sign displays very nicely as matted and framed. .
A very rare and attractive, 1890\'s, Chromolithographed Paperboard Advertising Sign for \"Spear Head Plug Tobacco\" featuring Palmer Cox “Brownies” and a fantastic addition to any collection!!!
Please Note: This Sign is 100% original and has NOT been repaired, restored, repainted, touched up or altered in any way!!
Overseasshippping is extra and cost will be quoted at buyers request. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax.
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Important Notes about Shipping Charges:
The amount quoted for Shipping & Handling is calculated by and is equal to the EXACT amount charged by the Post Office plus a $1.00 \"packing fee\" - the $1.00 fee is our only compensation for the virgin packing materials we use on all of our professionally packaged boxes as well as our cost for the salaried help that does most of our packing - as I am sure you can see, we make NO profit on the Shipping charges and, in fact, our costs are usually greater than the $1.00 fee. Please contact us if there are any issues regarding the cost of shipping.
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