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Ad for Boys Clothing at the Franklin Clothing Store. John Ashton, Jr. No. 30, Market Street, Lower Corner of Laetitia Court, Philadelphia. This authentic piece of ephemera appears to date from the 1840s/1850s. It is a small brochure consisting of one sheet of paper folded in half to make four panels. Panels 1 & 2 are fully intact, including the attractive engraving of a fashionably dressed young man, complete with his walking stick! (Panel 2 reads in part "The advertiser ... has endeavoured to portray on the first page, a costume well adapted to boys, from eight to fourteen.") The 2 full panels each measure appx. 4.75" x 7.5".
Panels 3 & 4 have suffered a loss of about 30% (see photos).These 2 panels each measure appx. 3.25" x 7.5". Still, much of the ad text on these 2 panels is still readable. Interestingly, these last 2 panels mostly discuss the "Patent Protection Pocket," for which the advertiser is a "general agent for the patentee" who is named as Daniel Harrington. There is a sketch of the Protection Pocket on the portion of the rear panel that remains. Apparently, pick-pockets were a troubling problem at the time. Please study the photos closely prior to offerding!In doing research for this ad, the Library Company of Philadelphia offered the following regarding the proprietor:John Ashton, Jr. (ca. 1802-1861) was a descendant of Pennsylvania Surveyor General Nicolas Scull, and operated his clothing store from 30 Market Street by 1841. Previously a clothing store at this address was operated by George Cullin. Ashton was in the clothing business by 1829 at 216 Market Street, as well as operated a bottling establishment at that address about that time as well. At his death in 1861 he worked as an agent.
