Jay T. Last Collection of Finance Prints and Ephemera: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Charla DelaCuadra.

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

Overview of the Collection

Title: Jay T. Last Collection of Finance Prints and Ephemera

Dates (inclusive): 1794-1926

Bulk dates: 1840-1900

Collection Number: priJLC_FIN

Collector: Last, Jay T.

Extent: approximately 1,075 items

Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Prints and Ephemera

Huntington Library

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 Finance Prints and Ephemera contains approximately 1,075 printed items related to finance, banking, auctions, and other monetary products and services in the United States from 1794 to 1926, with the bulk of the content dating from 1840 to 1900. Most items are lithographs, but engravings and woodcuts are also included.

Language: English.

Note:

Finding aid last updated on May 31, 2018.

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 Finance 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 Finance prints and ephemera were 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.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Scope and Content

The Jay T. Last Collection of Finance Prints and Ephemera contains approximately 1,075 printed items from the United States dating from 1794 to 1926, with the bulk of the content dating from 1840 to 1900. Items are related to the creation, distribution, and management of money as well as the conduct or transaction of money matters, including the protection or sale of personal and real property by agents, brokers, dealers, or land developers. This category covers accounting, auctions, banking, collection agencies, credits and loans, insurance, investment, and real estate along with the equipment, supplies, and structures associated with these businesses such as cash registers, checks, insurance policies, paper currency, and financial buildings. Most items are lithographs, but engravings and woodcuts are also included.

Materials are arranged in two series: small-size items (11 x 14 inches or less) and large-size items (more than 11 x 14 inches). Small-size items are described broadly at the series level; large-size items and select small-size items are fully inventoried with printers, artists, and publishers indexed by name. The collection includes 54 large-size items comprised mainly of advertising prints and insurance agreements. Small-size items number approximately 1,020 and contain a variety of materials, including trade cards, checks, leaflets, currency, imitation currency, and printed billheads and letterheads (with and without manuscript text). Of note are more than 100 bank checks issued by John H. Piatt & Co. Bankers of Cincinnati, Ohio, dating from 1817 to 1820 (Binder 1). They are signed by various Cincinnati-area businessmen and citizens including shoe store owner James Chute, druggist William Crissey, Methodist preacher Adbeel Coleman, and American Revolutionary War veteran Abraham Chase.

The collection provides a look at the evolution of advertising strategies and contractual language in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The images on the insurance-related materials often include depictions of fires and natural disasters, providing a resource for studying the history of emergency response and firefighting during this era. As graphic materials, the collection highlights developing techniques and trends in printmaking while documenting the artists, engravers, lithographers, printers, and publishers involved in the creative process.

Alternative Form of Materials Available

Visit the Huntington Digital Library: Jay T. Last Collection to view digitized items from this collection.

Related materials in the Huntington Library

Jay T. Last Collection of Firefighting Prints and Ephemera
Jay T. Last Collection of Military Prints and Ephemera Includes Confederate currency.
Jay T. Last Collection of Transportation: Railroad Stock and Bond Certificates

The Huntington Library Historical Prints Collection contains two related items (priHHC_FIN_0000284; priHHC_FIN_0000285) that is listed in the "Related Materials" section at the beginning of Series II in this finding aid.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following two series:

Series I. Finance Prints and Ephemera (small size)
Series II. Finance Prints and Ephemera (large size)

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.

Genres

Billheads.

Bonds (Negotiable instruments)

Broadsides.

Business cards.

Certificates.

Checks.

Chromolithographs.

Ephemera.

Ephemera -- United States -- 19th century.

Ephemera -- United States -- 20th century.

Engravings.

Handbills.

Intaglio prints.

Leaflets (printed works).

Letterheads.

Lithographs.

Money.

Printed ephemera.

Promotional materials.

Relief prints.

Stationery.

Trade cards.

Subjects

Advertising -- Banks and banking.

Advertising -- Insurance.

Auctions.

Banks and banking -- Pictorial works.

Buildings -- Pictorial works.

Commercial streets -- Pictorial works.

Financial services industry.

Fire engines -- Pictorial works.

Fire fighters -- Pictorial works.

Fires -- Pictorial works.

Insurance.

Lettering -- Pictorial works.

Lotteries.

Women -- Pictorial works.

Printer, Publisher, Artist Index

The following is a complete list of printers, publishers, and artists represented in the fully-cataloged items in this collection.

Anderson, Alexander, 1775-1870

Bailey, Francis, 1735?-1815

Baker, Geo. H. (George Holbrook), 1827-1906

Barker, J. J.

Beach & Barnard

Bigot, Alphonse, approximately 1828-1872 or 1873

Bufford, John Henry, 1810-1870

Clay & Cosack

Croome, William, 1790-1860

Defender Print

E. P. & L. Restein Lith.

E.B. Clayton & Sons

Errett & Anderson

H. T. Darlington & Co.

Hart, Chas. (Charles), active 1870-1880

Hatch & Co.

Hatch Lith. Co.

Henry T. Darlington & Co.

Hobson, R. H., active 1829-1834

Hoffmann, V., 1834-

Horton's Print

J. & E. Norton’s Print

J. Ottman Lithographic Company

King & Baird

Knickerbocker, C.

Lane, Nathan

Major & Knapp Engraving, Manufacturing & Lithographic Co.

Mason, William G.

New-Orleans Commercial Bulletin Office

Nissly, Samuel

P.R. Freas & Co.

Packard, Herbert S.

Palm & Fechteler

Ritchie & Dunnavant

Robertson, Wm. C. (Printer)

Rogers, Isaiah, 1800-1869

Shearman & Hart

Shearman, J. A.

Sinclair, Thomas S., approximately 1805-1881

Strobridge Lithographing Company

Thoubboron, J.

Warner, C. L.

Wheeler & Williams

Whitechurch, Robert, 1814-approximately 1880

Series I. Finance Prints and Ephemera (small size) 1794-1926

Physical Description: approximately 1,020 items in 8 binders and 1 flat-top box

Arrangement

Items smaller than 8 x 10 inches are housed in eight binders.

Items that are between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size are arranged in one box. Items with individual call numbers are arranged numerically. Select items have been fully cataloged and are described in the following format:

Title of print. Date
Artist(s) (when known). Printer(s). Publisher(s).

Binder 1

Banking, A-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)

Physical Description: approximately 200 items

Binder 2

Insurance, A-D by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)

Physical Description: approximately 105 items

Binder 3

Insurance, E-Hi by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)

Physical Description: approximately 110 items

Binder 4

Insurance, Ho-J by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)

Physical Description: approximately 150 items

Binder 5

Insurance, K-M by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)

Physical Description: approximately 145 items

Binder 6

Insurance, N-Po by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)

Physical Description: approximately 135 items

Binder 7

Insurance, Pr-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)

Physical Description: approximately 155 items

Binder 8

Real Estate, A-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)

Physical Description: approximately 20 items

Box 1

Finance (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)

Physical Description: approximately 20 items

Note

Select items in this box have been fully cataloged and are listed below.

priJLC_FIN_004297 To be sold at public vendue, on Monday, the 18th of November inst... 1822

Printers: Miner's Press

priJLC_FIN_004298 Notice. : Will be sold, at public sale, at Hart's Bottom... 1826

priJLC_FIN_004299 Standing timber. 1844

Printers: Iredell & Butler

priJLC_FIN_004456 Protection Insurance Company. Agent of the Protection Insurance Company, of Hartford, Conn. approximately 1852-1854

priJLC_FIN_004459 Orient Insurance Co. Hartford, Conn. approximately 1886-1887

priJLC_FIN_004460 Phoenix Insurance Co. Hartford, Conn. 1882

priJLC_FIN_004461 Compliments of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. ©1893

Printers: Knapp Co. Lith.

priJLC_FIN_004462 Compliments of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. ©1895

Printers: Knapp Co. Lith.

Printers: American Lithographic Co.

priJLC_FIN_004464 Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Company. approximately 1893

Artists: Kinne, C. Mason Printers: Bosqui Eng. & Print. Co.

priJLC_FIN_005030 $50 reward! Pocket wallet lost. 1852

Printers: George F. Nesbitt & Co.

priJLC_FIN_005031 This indenture made this first day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four... 1794

priJLC_FIN_005032 Commonwealth Fire Insurance Company of the state of Pennsylvania. approximately 1854-1857

Printers: Butler, J. M. (John M.)

priJLC_FIN_005034 Monmouth Mutual Fire Insurance Co. 1854

Series II. Finance Prints and Ephemera (large size) 1796-after 1912

Physical Description: 54 items

Related Material

Items in the Huntington Library Historical Prints collection:

priHHC_FIN_0000284 By Lyne & Brother, auctioneers and real estate agents... 1871
priHHC_FIN_0000285 Farms, mills, cottages, country seats, hotels, etc., for sale by R.R. Corson... approximately 1882-1902 Printers: Defender Print

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_FIN_000630

McLaughlin & Ryland’s bank : corner of Santa Clara and First Streets San Jose Cal. approximately 1872