American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Includes photographs, insurance advertising, sheet music, and more.

Large format albumen photo of a dozen and a half or so of young men in front of the “Cumberland Fire Co. No. 1,” Presumably trainees, or a firefighting “club,” or similar group. They all wear the same outfit – shirts with “C,” dark pants, light shoes. A dozen or so of them hold the ropes attached to a cart with large wheels. 

Five cabinet cards of firemen: one on “Fox, Sioux Falls, S.D.” mount, with “George Lord” written on the image; he holds a fire trumpet tucked in his arm; the other unmarked, but he holds a hat with “2” on front. Three more are on the same type of mounts, and even though unmarked, likely by the same photographer. Two of these men pictured have wonderful hat plates with men driving an antique firetruck/cart (either horse-drawn or just a generation past that). 

Three cdvs of firefighters. One with Louis Magnant, Lowell, Mass. On verso, others unmarked. (one has his shirt colored in non-professionally)

Advertising card, 4-12 x 5-12” printed in red ink showing men fighting a fore in a three-story building. Verso with ad for fire hoses and other protective equipment by The Gutta Percha & Rubber Mfg. Co., New York.

Plus a silk ribbon (2-1/2 x 7-1/2”) with “Nil Desperandum” (Never Despair), “1793” and “Fire Department” on it. In the center is a large female figure reaching out to a smaller figure with “And Yet There’s Room.” 

Eight cabinet cards appear to be policemen. Some hold truncheons, a couple have “POLICE” badges, a couple of other badges have stars in the center and another badge is a six-pointed star.

There are also two tintypes, approx. cdv-sized. One of these guys holds a truncheon and is clearly a police officer, the other is uncertain. He has nothing to distinguish his profession either way (or something else altogether different). 

Police trade card, nearly postcard-sized. Affixed to slightly larger card. Policeman stands with his arms crossed, crossed truncheons below. 

What appears to be a newspaper article about four firefighters receiving medals for heroic saves of six people that has been printed on a piece of cloth 6-1/2 x 13-1/4”.

Certificate stating that Roderick Wales had served as a fireman and is entitled to all the privileges arising therefrom. 20 Nov. 1850, City of Troy, (state?) Matted, 14 x 17-1/2” (sight). Lovely graphic at top of fireman handing a certificate (?) to another as a woman (“Columbia?) looks on. (moderate browning, esp. at top.)

Sheet music: JONES, Bobby and GRANT, Bert F. Our Brave Fire Laddies. New Haven (CT): Chas. H. Loomis, 1910. 4pp, 10-1/2 x 13-1/4”. (slight staining on back – mold?)

Fireman’s Song: Composed for & Dedicated to volunteer Firemen throughout the United States.” Boston: Parker & Ditson; Adapted by John Smith, 1839.” Two pages; wonderful graphic on front of fireman blowing his trumpet white holding a baby in a burning house.

“ADDRESS to the Firemen of the City of Albany, Written and Delivered by Miss Charlotte Cushman, at the Albany Theatre, on Monday Evening, the 31st October, 1836.” Approx. 8 x 10-1/4”. (possible mold stain; at present shrink wrapped on foam core) 

Partially printed insurance policy, for the Chatham Ins. Co., 10 x 16”, nice graphic of town at the top, small building burning in the near background. Insurance policy for freight on a Schooner called the Polly & Sally. 15-1/2 x 19-1/2”

Partially printed policy, for the Phoenix Assurance Company of London, 9 Jan. 1810. For Merchandise in store. 15-3/4 x 20”

18 buttons, all different. One is a small officer’s uniform button with eagle and shield, 3/4“ diam. One has a modified seal of the commonwealth of Kentucky, with two men shaking hands. But the button has “United we Stand; Divided we Fall” around the edge of the button rather than on a ribbon below the men (as the seal does). Two other somewhat unique buttons both have Abraham Lincoln’s profile; one has a wreath around him, the other has none. Most of the others have either plants or geometric designs, but none clearly fire or police.