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1890s Victorian Trade Card Dr Isaac Thompson's Eye Water Troy NY Aladdin Sultan — A vertical card from an Aladdin series. Approx. 2.75 x 4.20 in.
DESCRIPTION
A vertical card from an Aladdin series. Printed caption at top: "Aladin and the Wonderful Lamp: The Sultan seeing the Wonderful Castle." A bearded sultan in a red plumed cap, gold robe, striped sash and white trousers sits on a balustraded terrace with a curved sword at his side, raising a hand toward a domed palace with fountains and palm trees. Pink curtains frame the scene. At the foot: "USE DR. ISAAC THOMPSON'S EYE WATER P.T.O." ("please turn over"), and at lower left, "Serie 5435:4."
The back is printed in black: "IF YOU ARE SUFFERING from granulated lids or any form of inflammation of the eyes; if your eyes feel 'full of sticks'; if, after the day's work, they feel tired and smarting, nothing will give so sure relief as an application of DR. ISAAC THOMPSON'S CELEBRATED EYE WATER ... IN CONSTANT USE FOR OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS. ITS MERITS STAND UNRIVALLED. For Sale by All Druggists. Price 25 Cents a Bottle. JOHN L. THOMPSON, SONS & CO., TROY, N.Y. Send stamped and addressed envelope for full set of these cards." Approx. 2.75 x 4.20 in.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Patent medicine on parade. Dr. Isaac Thompson's Eye Water was a patent medicine sold over the counter, and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History holds a bottle in its collection. This card claims more than a century of "constant use" and relief for eyes that feel "full of sticks."
Arabian Nights at the druggist's counter. The front illustrates the tale of Aladdin, here spelled "Aladin," at the moment the Sultan first sees the wonderful palace. Orientalist scenes of sultans, palaces and turbans were favorites of late Victorian printers and collectors alike.
Collect the set. "Send stamped and addressed envelope for full set of these cards," says the back. Numbered series like this one turned customers into collectors, which is why trade cards survive in albums today.
A Troy, New York, firm. The back names John L. Thompson, Sons & Co. of Troy, N.Y., as the maker.
CONDITION
Very good. Front: bright colors and a clean image; corners sharp to very slightly soft; light wear along the edges with faint toning at the margins. Back: clean and bright, with light toning along the left and right edges and a tiny mark at the top edge. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.
ABOUT THE PRINTING
This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.
Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.
The text on the back is printed in black letterpress.
PROVENANCE
From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.
ALSO IN OUR STORE
More Victorian advertising trade cards for patent medicines, thread and coffee are in our store.
Please visit TF sales Intl: images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.
Ref# ADV-052
