Jay T. Last Collection of Maritime Prints and Ephemera: Finding
Aid
Finding aid prepared by Charla DelaCuadra.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Prints and Ephemera
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2014
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Overview of the Collection
Title: Jay T. Last Collection of Maritime
Prints and Ephemera
Dates (inclusive): 1704-approximately 1942
Bulk dates: 1840-1890
Collection Number: priJLC_MAR
Collector:
Last, Jay T.
Extent:
approximately 1,150 items
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Prints and Ephemera
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The Jay T. Last Collection of Maritime Prints and Ephemera
contains approximately 1,150 printed items that pertain to travel, shipping, and
other maritime-related activities and businesses in the United States primarily
dating from the second half of the 19th century. The collection consists of
advertising and promotional materials, business records, and illustrations produced
for or relevant to steamship companies, sailing vessels, shipping entities,
passenger lines, and related businesses and publications.
Language: English.
Note:
Finding aid last updated on September 24, 2015.
Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.
Administrative Information
Publication Rights
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities.
The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the
researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, Call number]. Jay T. Last Collection of Maritime Prints and
Ephemera, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Provenance
This collection forms part of the Jay T. Last Collection of Graphic Arts and
Social History, which was donated to the Huntington Library by Jay T. Last in
2005 as a gift in progress. The bulk of the
Maritime Prints and Ephemera was transferred to the Library between 2010 and 2012.
Background
The Jay T. Last Collection is an unparalleled archive of printed paper artifacts
that documents American lithographic, social, and business history. The
collection began in the early 1970s when physicist and Silicon Valley pioneer
Jay Last moved to Southern California and started collecting citrus box labels
he found at local flea markets and rummage sales. As his collection grew, Last
realized that these labels conveyed important information about commercial
printing, graphic design, and social history, and he expanded his collection to
include other forms of American visual culture. Today this collection contains more than 200,000 lithographic prints, posters,
and ephemera of mostly
nineteenth- and early twentieth- century American origin and represents works by
more than five hundred lithographic companies.
Scope and Content
The Jay T. Last Collection of Maritime Prints and Ephemera contains approximately
1,150 printed items that pertain to travel, shipping, and other maritime-related
activities and businesses in the United States primarily dating from the second half
of the 19th century. The collection consists of advertising and promotional
materials, business records, and illustrations produced for or relevant to steamship
companies, sailing vessels, shipping entities, passenger lines, and related
businesses and publications.
Materials are arranged in two series: small-size items (11 x 14 inches or less) and
large-size items (bigger than 11 x 14 inches). Small-size items are described
broadly at the series level; large-size items are fully inventoried, and all
printers, artists, and publishers are indexed by name. The collection has more than
55 large-size items comprised mainly of lithographic and engraved prints of ships,
certificates and contracts, and advertising materials for passenger and shipping
routes. Small-size items in the collection number approximately 1,100 and are
comprised mainly of advertising and promotional ephemera and business documents. The
vast majority of these items are bills of lading and steamship passes, but the
collection also has trade cards, timetables, booklets, directory ads, menus,
passenger lists, postcards, handbills, and printed billheads and letterheads with
manuscript text.
Subjects addressed within the collection include commerce, advertising, technology
and engineering, and tourism as related to river, lake, and ocean travel mostly in
the United States. The images are primarily promotional and provide information
about the history of passenger travel and commercial shipping, as well as the
advertising strategies employed by these industries in the 19th and early 20th
centuries. As graphic materials, the items offer evidence of visual culture and
printmaking techniques and trends, as well as information about the artists,
engravers, lithographers, printers, and publishers involved in the creative process.
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Related materials in the Huntington Library
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following two series:
- Series I. Maritime Prints and Ephemera (small size)
- Series II. Maritime Prints and Ephemera (large size)
Items are arranged numerically by call number and described in the following format:
-
Title of print. Date
- Artist(s) (when known). Printer(s). Publisher(s)
Indexing Terms
Genres
Billheads.
Broadsides.
Business cards.
Business records.
Certificates.
Chromolithographs.
Contracts.
Ephemera.
Ephemera -- United States -- 19th
century.
Ephemera -- United States -- 20th
century.
Engravings.
Handbills.
Intaglio prints.
Leaflets (printed works).
Letterheads.
Lithographs.
Maps.
Menus.
Newspapers.
Passenger lists.
Postcards.
Printed ephemera.
Promotional materials.
Relief prints.
Stationery.
Tickets.
Timetables.
Trade cards.
Subjects
Advertising -- Tourism.
Advertising -- Transportation.
Boats and boating -- Pictorial
works.
Docks -- Pictorial works.
Dry docks -- Pictorial works.
Fenians.
Flags -- Pictorial works.
Hudson River (N.Y. and
N.J.) -- Pictorial works.
Industrial buildings -- Pictorial
works.
Mississippi River --
Pictorial works.
Palms -- Pictorial works.
Rivers -- Pictorial works.
Sailboats -- Pictorial works.
Sailors -- Pictorial works.
Ship captains -- Pictorial
works.
Shipbuilding.
Ships -- Pictorial works.
Shipwrecks -- Pictorial works.
Steamboats -- Pictorial works.
Steamboats.
Transportation accidents -- Pictorial
works.
Printer, Publisher, Artist Index
The following is a complete list of printers, publishers, and artists represented
in the large-size items in this collection.
A. Hoen & Co.
American Lithographic Co.
Bixler & Corwin.
Britton & Rey.
Bufford, John Henry, 1810-1870.
Century Lith. Co.
Clapp, David, 1806-1893.
Clay, Cosack & Co.
Cleveland, James A., 1811-
Currier & Ives.
Davids, Oscur.
De Young, M. H. (Michael Harry),
1849-1925.
Democrat Print.
Drew, Clement, 1806-1889.
Endicott & Co. (New York, N.Y.)
F. Sala & Co.
Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing
Company.
George F. Nesbitt & Co.
Gies & Co.
Gladwin, George.
Harper & Brothers.
Hatch Lith. Co.
Hoogland, William, 1794 or 1795-1832.
J.O. Seymour & Co.
Kelly, Thos., active 1867-1868.
Magnus, Charles.
Major & Knapp Engraving,
Manufacturing & Lithographic Co.
Martinet, Alf.
Menger, L. R.
N. Currier (Firm)
Nagel & Weingärtner.
Otis, Fessenden N. (Fessenden Nott),
1825-1900.
P.S. Duval & Son.
Palmer & Co. (1842-1851)
Parsons, Charles, 1821-1910.
Pendleton’s Lithography.
Pollock & Doty.
Propeller Power Presses.
Queen, Jas. (James),
1824-approximately 1877.
Rand McNally and Company.
Russell, E. N.
Strobridge & Co. Lith.
Swett, Moses.
T. Moore’s Lithography.
Tidd, M. M., 1827-1895.
Todhunter, Francis Augustus,
1884-1963.
Wade, William, active 1844-1852.
Weale, John, 1791-1862.
Webber, W.
Weingartner, A.
Wickersham, S.
Series I. Maritime Prints and Ephemera (small size)
1704-1939
(bulk 1840-1890)
Physical Description:
approximately 1,090 items in 11 binders and 1
flat-top box
Scope and Content
This series contains approximately 1,090 small-size printed items that
pertain to travel, shipping, and other maritime-related activities and
businesses in the United States from 1704 to 1939. The materials consist of
advertising and promotional ephemera, illustrations, and business records
relevant to steamship companies, sailing vessels, shipping entities,
passenger lines, and related businesses and publications. The vast majority
of these items are bills of lading and steamship passes, but the collection
also has trade cards, timetables, booklets, directory ads, menus, passenger
lists, postcards, handbills, and printed billheads and letterheads with
manuscript text.
Items smaller than 8 x 10 inches are housed in binders, while items that are
between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size are individually sleeved
and arranged in folders in one box.
Arrangement
Small-size items are arranged by company, with the exception of bills of
lading. Bills of lading are organized geographically by state followed by
city of departure, and then ordered chronologically within each city
grouping.
Binder 1
Bills of Lading, AL-MD by state (8 x 10 inches or smaller in
size)
Physical Description: approximately 85 items
Binder 2
Bills of Lading, MA-NJ by state (8 x 10 inches or smaller in
size)
Physical Description: approximately 80 items
Binder 3
Bills of Lading, NY, 1760-1859 (8 x 10 inches or smaller in
size)
Physical Description: approximately 85 items
Binder 4
Bills of Lading, NY, 1860-1899 (8 x 10 inches or smaller in
size)
Physical Description: approximately 60 items
Binder 5
Bills of Lading, NC-PA by state (8 x 10 inches or smaller in
size)
Physical Description: approximately 85 items
Binder 6
Bills of Lading, RI-VA by state & Wash. D.C. (8 x 10 inches
or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 75 items
Binder 7
Steamboat Lines, U.S. & Canada, A-Z by company (8 x 10
inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 125 items
Binder 8
Steamboat Lines, Transoceanic, A-N by company (8 x 10 inches or
smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 105 items
Binder 9
Steamboat Lines, Transoceanic, O-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or
smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 60 items
Binder 10
Steamboat Passes, A-L by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in
size)
Physical Description: approximately 155 items
Binder 11
Steamboat Passes, M-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in
size)
Physical Description: approximately 165 items
Box 1
Maritime Prints and Ephemera (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14
inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 15 items
Series II. Maritime Prints and Ephemera (large size)
1825-approximately 1942
(bulk 1840-1890)
Physical Description:
57 items
Scope and Content
This series contains 57 large-size printed items pertaining to travel,
shipping, and other maritime-related activities and businesses in the United
States from 1825 to approximately 1942, with the majority of items dating
from 1840 to 1890. The series is comprised mainly of lithographed
advertising prints produced for steamship companies, including both domestic
and transoceanic passenger and commercial services.
Genres represented include advertising prints, certificates, broadsides, and
documentary prints. The series contains color-printed, hand-colored, and
uncolored images that range in size from approximately 11 x 14 inches to 30
x 40 inches.
Arrangement
Items are arranged numerically by call number and described in the following
format:
-
Title of print. Date
- Artist(s) (when known). Printer(s). Publisher(s).
priJLC_MAR_001387
The packet-boat Shenandoah, Capt. S. Compson, will hereafter
leave Montezuma for Geneva daily ... Sept. 12, 1845.
12 September 1845
priJLC_MAR_001395
Enrollment. : No. 44 Forty Four.
25 August 1837
priJLC_MAR_001396
Warden's Office of the Port of Philadelphia.
14 March 1877
priJLC_MAR_001397
Midnight race on the Mississippi.
approximately 1872-1883
Printers:
Kelly, Thos., active 1867-1868
Publishers:
Kelly, Thos., active 1867-1868
priJLC_MAR_001399
View of the English steamer Caledonia wrecked on Cape Cod, Jan.
1st. 1863.
1863-1864
Printers:
Tidd, M. M., 1827-1895
priJLC_MAR_001400
View of the U.S. Mail Steamship Company's premises, : Aspinwall
N. G.
©1854
Artists:
Parsons, Charles, 1821-1910;
Otis, Fessenden N. (Fessenden Nott), 1825-1900
Printers:
Endicott & Co. (New York, N.Y.)
priJLC_MAR_001402
Norwich Steamboat Line. Inland route for New York. Spring
arrangement. 1860.
1860
Printers:
Clapp, David, 1806-1893
priJLC_MAR_001403
Plymouth Rock. Official paper of the most superb steam excursion
palace in the world.
1875
priJLC_MAR_001404
The Suffolk and California Mutual Trading & Mining
Association.
approximately 1850
Printers:
Propeller Power Presses
priJLC_MAR_001405
State line : Austin, Baldwin & Co. General agents.
1871-1886
Printers:
Hatch Lith. Co.
priJLC_MAR_001406
Bark Catalpa, of New Bedford.
©1876
Artists:
Russell, E. N.
Printers:
Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company
priJLC_MAR_001409
Pilot boat "Gypsey."
approximately 1856-1861
Artists:
Drew, Clement, 1806-1889
Printers:
Weingartner, A.
priJLC_MAR_001410
From the old to the new world--German emigrants for New York
embarking on a Hamburg steamer.
7 November 1874
Publishers:
Harper & Brothers
priJLC_MAR_001413
Explosion of the Alfred Thomas at Easton PA. March 6th. 1860.
1860
Artists:
Queen, Jas. (James), 1824-approximately 1877
Printers:
P.S. Duval & Son
Publishers:
Bixler & Corwin
priJLC_MAR_001414
View in Boston harbour.
1835-1840
Printers:
T. Moore’s Lithography
priJLC_MAR_001415
The missionary steam-barkentine, "Morning Star."
1884
Artists:
Webber, W.
Printers:
Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company
priJLC_MAR_001416
Screw Dock Co. between Market and Pike Streets East River.
1853-1886
Printers:
Endicott & Co. (New York, N.Y.)
priJLC_MAR_001417
New-York and New-Haven steamboat line.
1825
priJLC_MAR_001419
Charles Houghton.
1856-1864
Printers:
Bufford, John Henry, 1810-1870
priJLC_MAR_001420
Lake Superior Transit Co.
1875-1892
priJLC_MAR_001421
Scene on the upper Mississippi.
approximately 185-?
priJLC_MAR_001424
[Washington Irving]
approximately 1913-1926
priJLC_MAR_001425
The grandest palace drawing room steamers in the world. Drew and
St. John.
1877-1893
Artists:
Parsons, Charles, 1821-1910
Printers:
Currier & Ives
priJLC_MAR_001426
The Great Eastern. Designed by I. K. Brunel Esqr.
approximately 1858
Printers:
Magnus, Charles
priJLC_MAR_001427
Anchor Line sailing regularly between New York Glasgow via
Londonderry. Henderson Brothers, general agents New York - Chicago.
1891-1898
priJLC_MAR_001428
Cunard Line New York, Boston, Liverpool and Queenstown.
1901-1905
Printers:
American Lithographic Co.
priJLC_MAR_001429
Cunard Line between New York or Boston, Queenstown and
Liverpool, passage tickets to & from all parts of Europe at
lowest prices.
1882-1888
Printers:
Major & Knapp Engraving, Manufacturing
& Lithographic Co.
priJLC_MAR_001430
Mallory Line to and from Florida.
1873-1888
Printers:
Major & Knapp Engraving, Manufacturing
& Lithographic Co.
priJLC_MAR_001431
Mallory S. S. Lines to Texas and Florida.
1873-1888
Printers:
Major & Knapp Engraving, Manufacturing
& Lithographic Co.
priJLC_MAR_001432
Jupiter of Philaa.
1853-1886
Printers:
Endicott & Co. (New York, N.Y.)
priJLC_MAR_001437
Steamer Foh-Kien.
approximately 1863
Printers:
Endicott & Co. (New York, N.Y.)
priJLC_MAR_001438
Steamer Drew.
1867
Artists:
Parsons, Charles, 1821-1910
Printers:
Endicott & Co. (New York, N.Y.)
priJLC_MAR_001441
Metropolitan Steamship Co. Daily outside line between New York
& Boston.
approximately 1873-1886
Printers:
Endicott & Co. (New York, N.Y.)
priJLC_MAR_001442
Steamship Knoxville New York & Savannah Steam Navigation Co.
1849-1856
Artists:
Cleveland, James A., 1811-
Printers:
Nagel & Weingärtner
priJLC_MAR_001444
Empire City Line Pacific steam ship Northerner.
1842-1851
Printers:
Palmer & Co. (1842-1851)
priJLC_MAR_001446
Appearance of the U.S. steamer Massachusetts when dismasted at 2
p.m. Septr. 22d 1854.
approximately 1854
Artists:
Davids, Oscur
Printers:
Martinet, Alf.
priJLC_MAR_001447
Anchor Line transatlantic & Mediterranean steamships sail
regularly every Wednesday & Saturday.
approximately 1871-1875
Printers:
George F. Nesbitt & Co.
priJLC_MAR_001450
High pressure steamboat Mayflower.
©1855
Artists:
Parsons, Charles, 1821-1910
Printers:
N. Currier (Firm)
Publishers:
N. Currier (Firm)
priJLC_MAR_001451
R. Cornell White's new palatial excursion steamer Grand
Republic.
approximately 1878
Artists:
Parsons, Charles, 1821-1910
Printers:
Endicott & Co. (New York, N.Y.)
priJLC_MAR_001452
Chesapeake Steamship Company.
approximately 1900-1941
priJLC_MAR_001453
Palace Steamer Republic.
approximately 1890-1893
Printers:
Century Lith. Co.
priJLC_MAR_001454
Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company's steamer Great Republic.
1867
Artists:
Parsons, Charles, 1821-1910
Printers:
Endicott & Co. (New York, N.Y.)
Publishers:
Menger, L. R.
priJLC_MAR_001455
Steamer Hu Quang.
approximately 1863
Printers:
Endicott & Co. (New York, N.Y.)
priJLC_MAR_001456
Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company's steamer China.
1867-1879
Printers:
Endicott & Co. (New York, N.Y.)
Publishers:
Menger, L. R.
priJLC_MAR_001457
Merchants & Miners Transportation Company steamship lines.
1895-1942
priJLC_MAR_001459
Pittsburgh & Cincinnatti [sic] Packet Buckeye State.
1851
Artists:
Gladwin, George;
Wickersham, S.
Printers:
Weale, John, 1791-1862
priJLC_MAR_001462
[Crowd on dock waving at steamship Italy]
1875-1885
Printers:
Strobridge & Co. Lith.
priJLC_MAR_002602
Narragansett Steamship Co. New York to Boston, via Newport and
Fall River. 1871.
13 May 1871
Printers:
J.O. Seymour & Co.
priJLC_MAR_002603
Norwich Line for Boston Worcester via New London.
8 May 1878
priJLC_MAR_002604
Steam packet Chancellor Livingston (- entering the harbour of
Newport.)
approximately 1828
Artists:
Swett, Moses
Printers:
Pendleton’s Lithography
priJLC_MAR_002605
The Catalpa the rescuers and the rescued.
approximately 1876
priJLC_MAR_002606
Hamburg American Packet Company. Imperial German U.S. mail
steamships.
approximately 1873-1885
Printers:
Rand McNally and Company
priJLC_MAR_002607
The Union Steamboat Company.
1868-1877
Printers:
Clay, Cosack & Co.
priJLC_MAR_003313
These certify that ___ was legally admitted a member of the
Pilots' Charitable Society...
approximately 1825
Artists:
Hoogland, William, 1794 or 1795-1832
priJLC_MAR_003314
This is to certify that Edwin M. Snow, M.D. ... American
Seamen's Friend Society.
approximately 1853
Artists:
Wade, William, active 1844-1852
Printers:
Pollock & Doty
priJLC_MAR_003315
United States of America. No ardent spirits allowed on board.
28 June 1861
priJLC_MAR_003378
San Francisco Chronicle Sunday supplement Sept. 2nd 1906.
California's great inland water ways.
2 September 1906
Artists:
Todhunter, Francis Augustus, 1884-1963
Publishers:
De Young, M. H. (Michael Harry), 1849-1925