Currently indexing
trade card
Date: circa 1820
Inventory Number: 2000-1-0011a
Classification: Trade card
Subject:
Maker: Samuel Thaxter (1769 - 1842)
Maker: Samuel N. Dickinson (1801 - 1848)
Cultural Region:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
19.5 x 22.7 cm (7 11/16 x 8 15/16 in.)
Material:
Accessories: frame (2000-1-0011b)
Description:
This trade card is taken from the home of H. Chase, a storekeeper, postmaster, and judge for display in his store. It was placed in a draw-house estate closed at Chase's death. It is printed on rectangular white cardboard with ornate, geometrical, floral printed border in black ink. There are seven different fonts, and three pictures a compass, an octant, and a man holding an octant. There is a frame accompanying this card (though not with it at the moment) (2000-1-0011b).
Signedon top of card: SAMUEL THAXTER
on bottom of card: S. N. Dickinson, Pr. 52 Washington St.
on bottom of card: S. N. Dickinson, Pr. 52 Washington St.
Inscribedon card: SAMUEL THAXTER MATHEMATICAL INSTRUMENT MAKER,/NO 125/ State St. Boston./ Sextants, Quadrants, compasses, Spy Glasses, Thermometers, surveying and/Gauging Instruments, Sea Books and Charts./ Nautical and Surveying Instruments repaired with accuracy and despatch.
FunctionUsed to advertise the wares of Samuel Thaxter, instrument maker of 125 State St. Boston.
Historical AttributesA note with the card mentions the following: "From H. Chase, Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Chase, a storekeeper, postmaster and judge, was sent this, by Thaxter, for his store - already framed for display. It was, instead, placed in a drawer. At his death, the house and estate was closed on account of a wrangle between his two sons. Their heirs held an auction in 1965 and this card was recovered by Richard Mills of Exeter, New Hampshire from the drawer and sold to DPW in November 1966."