Or: Consumption Junction, what's your function? If like me, and unfamiliar with balsam used as a medicinal cure-all for upper respiratory issues, then refer to this Victorian era die-cut advertising card that I coughed up the other day. Standing nearly a foot tall, and featuring some adorable artwork of a young lady climbing the ladder back to good health, one need only flip over said image to reveal all of the wonders of balsam from Dr. William Hall himself. Also note the handful of happily surviving customer tweets-- errr, I mean, testimonials. This cute card was also apparently just 1 of 4 different advert designs, as mentioned towards the very bottom on the back of the card.
The artwork is impressive, and just as impressive is the fact it survived in such good condition for over 140 years.
ReplyDeleteThe testimonials were written in a style that has disappeared from modern usage. Anyone who has read the unabridged works of Poe will understand my meaning, since writing back then was almost written in a poetic style, not the quick to the point writing we see today.
Beautiful illustration, and I love the trick of using the cloth (which, in reality, would make this a very dangerous climb) to make the cut out work.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of detail, from the buttons to the various bows and jewelry. Very realistic dog, too!
Wow, cured tuberculosis! That is quite a claim. Clever how the marketers of this stuff don't make that claim themselves, though--it's all just the lay opinions of Dr. Hall's doting fans. At least one of those guys also said he was a druggist. Can't argue with a druggist.
ReplyDeleteGreat art! I love old timey medical stuff like this.