Skip to content

Subject: Undergarments

No additional authority information available for Undergarments.


Billhead - Stern Brothers, New York, September 24, 1875Billhead - Stern Brothers, New York, September 24, 1875

This billhead from Stern Brothers, Importers and Dealers in Silks, Trimmings, Laces, Millinery Goods, Gloves, Hosiery, Corsets, and Undergarments, details a transaction with Mssrs C. E. Green dated September 24, 1875. The invoice lists items purchased including one pair of shaws, one apron, and one slip, totaling $14.83. The document features ornate Victorian-style lettering for the business name, decorative borders, and a small illustration above the names of the partners.

Trade Card - Thomson's, Parkersburg, West Virginia, 1885Trade Card - Thomson's, Parkersburg, West Virginia, 1885

This trade card advertises Thomson's Patent Glove-Fitting Corsets, which were sold by Isaac Praeger & Sons of Parkersburg, West Virginia. The verso of the card promotes the corsets, claiming they had been popular for fifteen years and were "the most popular Corsets throughout the United States," praised for their construction and ability to create a "perfect figure." It also mentions different "G" quality styles: E (Pitti-Sing), D (Yum-Yum), and Ventilating Style (Peep-Bo). The front of the card features a color illustration of three white women dressed in stereotypical Japanese kimonos, holding corsets. They are labeled "Pitti-Sing," "Yum-Yum," and "Peep-Bo," referencing characters from Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado." The card includes a crown "TRADE MARK" logo and ornate text for "Thomson's Patent Glove Fitting." The imagery reflects a problematic and racist depiction of Asian culture. **3.

Trade Card for E. Newman, Dealer in Ladies' Fine UndergarmentsTrade Card for E. Newman, Dealer in Ladies' Fine Undergarments

This trade card advertises E. Newman, a dealer in ladies' fine undergarments, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The front of the card features a woman wearing a Bortree corset. The illustration depicts a woman standing with her back to the viewer, facing a mirror. She wears a long gown and a corset. The words 'Bortree Corset' are printed on the corset. The back of the card provides more detailed information about the business.