Miscellaneous Ads in the Late 19th Century
As magazines were a common method of advertising in the late 19th Century, goods and services of all kinds could be found there. Toys, books, accessories, and small functional items were often the subject of ads, as well as services such as lessons for painting and penmanship. Many were offered for affordable prices for daily use in the home.
Magic Trick Fan
This ad for a Magic Trick Fan was included in the July 1879 issue of Demorest's Family Magazine. It shows the types of toys, gadgets, and entertainment people in the late 19th Century enjoyed. Advertised by the Eureka Trick and Novelty Company, buyers could contact the company directly for purchase by mail.
Queer People Children's Publication
Featured in the January 1889 issue of Demorest's Family Magazine, this ad was during the time "queer" was beginning to change its meaning. Advertising a children's publication with stories, drawings, and pranks by Palmer Cox, in this context "queer" means odd or esoteric. In the late 1800s, though, it began to be used colloquially as a derogatory term for gay men. Queer may have begun to fall out of the daily lexicon during this time.
Rose Darner and Mender
This ad by Madame Demorest for the Rose Darner and Mender was included in the July 1880 issue of Demorest's Family Magazine. Advertised as the only sewing machine attachment that will darn and mend textile items without patching, this would have been a useful tool for anyone. Priced at $1.00, it was an affordable way to increase the life of daily-use textile items in the home by machine instead of by hand.
Webster's Dictionary
This ad, featured in the April 1882 issue of Demorest's Family Magazine, is for Webster's newest dictionary published by G. & C. Merriam in Springfield, MA. Later, the dictionary's name would change to include the publisher. Highlighting many features of the book, the ad boasts definitions for 118,000 words. By comparison, today's Merriam-Webster dictionary contains approximately 470,000 words. Everyday use of a dictionary in 1882 could include letter writing, schooling, and parlor talk.
