Rare Books and ManuscriptsFolio A 2016 3iYale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Fund
Copyright Status:
Copyright Not Evaluated
Classification:
Books
Notes:
"Pears transparent soap is an old brand of soap, first produced commercially in 1789 by Andrew Pears at a factory just off Oxford Street in London, England. It was the world's first transparent soap. Pears began to experiment with soap purification eventually managed to produce a gentle soap based on glycerine and other natural products. The clarity the soap gave it a novel transparent appearance which provided a marketing advantage. To add to the appeal, he gave the soap an aroma reminiscent of an English garden."--Grace's Guide to British Industrial History.At head of the sheet: "Don't destroy this!!! It is printed on a Japanese handkerchief, expressly imported. It is a curiosity!!!" Rickards notes that the identical heading was used in an advertisement issued by John Moses and Co. of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 1881. See: Rickards, M. Encyclopedia of Ephemera (2000), p. 8.At foot of the sheet: "Proprietors, A. & F. Pears ... Soap makers to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. 91, Great Russell Street, London, W.C.""Field & Tuer, ye Leadenhalle Presse, E.C."Date of publication inferred from testimonials. The text mentions John Milton's Hygiene of skin, first published by Chatto & Windus in 1879. It refers to the "late Mr. [James] Startin," who died in 1872. The word "late" is not used in conjunction with the names of Professor Erasmus Wilson (1809-1884) and Dr. Tilbury Fox (1836-1879).John Johnson Collection, Window Bills and Advertisements folder 5 (20b)The advertisement is printed letterpress, on fine tissue paper. It includes Japanese decorative pieces and oval vignettes of a woman washing her hands and of a pair of women washing an infant. The text includes testimonials from the opera singer Madame Adelina Patti (1843-1919) and from notable dermatologists, including John Milton, James Startin, Erasmus Wilson and Tilbury Fox.
Subject Terms:
Patti, Adelina, 1843–1919. | Fox, Tilbury, 1836–1879. | Milton, J. L. (John Laws), 1820–1898. | Startin, James, 1806–1872. | Wilson, Erasmus, Sir, 1809–1884. | A. & F. Pears Limited. | Soap -- Great Britain -- 19th century. | Cosmetics industry -- Great Britain -- 19th century.