Trade Card for Spool Cotton, Willimantic Linen Co., 1882-1885

01

Artifact Overview

Showman P. T. Barnum purchased Jumbo, an 11-foot, 6-ton African elephant, from the London Zoo in 1882. Barnum shipped the giant pachyderm to America to star in his circus. Jumbo became a national sensation. Manufacturers capitalized on Jumbo's popularity by using the elephant's image in their advertising. This fanciful trade card depicts a reluctant Jumbo pulled to America with strong Willimatic Thread.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Trade card

Date Made

1882-1885

Subject Date

1882-1885

Creator Notes

Manufactured by Willimantic Linen Company, Willimantic, Connecticut. Retailed by R. Gamble, Primrose, Ohio. Lithgraphed by Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company, Boston, Massachusetts.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

90.0.281.517

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Ink
Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Lithography
Printing (Process)

Color

Multicolored

Dimensions

Height: 3.5 in
Width: 5.75 in