General Antiques and Collectibles Spring Auction
Lot 166:
Description
C-17726
c. 1880s; Capitol Cylinder Oil – United States Early monochrome lithographed trade card featuring the Statue of Liberty, titled "Liberty Enlightening the World – The Great Bartholdi Statue." Issued before or shortly after the statue’s 1886 dedication, the card depicts the monument atop its pedestal on Bedloe’s Island (now Liberty Island) in New York Harbor. Above the image, an advertising slogan reads: "Use Capitol Cylinder Oil – Approved by the Best Engineers." This trade card exemplifies late 19th-century marketing, when advertisers frequently paired patriotic or monumental imagery with their products to emphasize reliability and national pride. By connecting their oil to Bartholdi’s statue-a gift from France and a symbol of progress-Capitol Cylinder Oil positioned itself as a product of strength, endurance, and modern engineering.
The card shows light age toning, mild edge wear, and surface handling but retains sharp detail and historic significance.
3" W x 5" H
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