navEphemera
The graphic arts department houses many additional collections of what can be termed ephemera.
| Collection description | Sample image | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Billheads |
 |
Nearly 1,000 examples, ranging in date from the 1760s to 1900. |
| Bookplates |
 |
Over 21,000 bookplates. |
| Booksellers' and Binders' Labels |
 |
Over 1,500 booksellers' and binders' labels. |
| Broadsides |
 |
Over thirty thousand items, ranging in date from 1643 to 1900. |
| Calling and Sentiment Cards |
 |
Over 600 calling cards, many homemade in manuscript and watercolor, others engraved or letter-press printed, and an additional collection of sentiment cards. |
| Civil War Envelopes |
 |
Approximately 4,000 envelopes, some illustrated. |
| Clipper Ship Cards |
 |
Over 350 cards advertising the departures of clipper ships. |
| Currency |
 |
Over 2,000 pieces of Colonial era currency. Also nineteenth century notes and confederate specimens. |
| Election Ballots |
 |
Over 950 election ballots that include national, state, and town elections. |
| Invitations |
 |
Several hundred invitations, dating from the 1750's through the 1880's. |
| Lottery Broadsides and Tickets |
 |
Over 100 broadsides issued by lottery offices and government agencies and approximately 350 tickets ranging in date from the mid-1750's to the late nineteenth century. |
| Membership Certificates |
 |
Over 320 hand-lettered, engraved or relief printed certificates of membership dating from 1785 to 1946. |
| Menus |
 |
Approximately 400 menus, ranging in date from 1824-1876 |
| Postcards |
 |
Approximately 115,000 picture postcards, most of them dating from the 1890s through the 1920s |
| Ream Wrappers |
 |
Over sixty items from mills in a variety of states, ranging in date from 1820 to 1860. |
| Rewards of Merit |
 |
Nearly 2,000 hand painted, engraved, printed, and chromolithographed items. |
| Textile Printing |
 |
Consists mainly of badges worn in parades and funeral processions, menus, and theater programs. |
| Tickets |
 |
Several thousand tickets for all sorts of activities including train excursions, dances and lectures. |
| Trade Cards |
 |
Over 15,000 trade cards ranging in date from 1749 through 1900. |
| Valentines |
 |
Over 3,000 valentines ranging in date from the 1830’s to 1900. |
| Watch Papers |
 |
Over 600 watch papers, including examples by Peter Maverick, Paul Revere, and Nathaniel Hurd. |
