Album of pharmaceutical label samples.

PRINTING.

Published by Leeds: Harrison & Waide, c.1900

About this Item

An extensive collection of designs ranging from the 1870s through to the Edwardian era, demonstrating the development of styles. The labels primarily refer to chemists' and druggists' products, but also include advertisements and packaging for food and drink, such as whiskey, lemonade, and curry powder. Operating as printers, bookbinders, and stationers, Alfred Harrison and Thomas Waide commenced trading in 1878. They were based in Leeds, an important printing hub of the period that was "second only to London. Leeds firms specialized in quality colour printing of everything from postcards to calendars and posters, on tinplate as well as card and paper" (Fraser, p. 164). That "quality" is very much in evidence here, exhibited by the huge range of styles for a vast array of products: rheumatic pellets and kidney pills, hair restorer and wart paste, castor oil and poisons, with much else besides, including wine and beer labels, photographic developer and furniture polish. Harrison and Waide's firm was well-respected, and they moved to successively larger premises until around 1909 when their partnership ended. The expansive nature of the business is indicated by the huge number of chemists who are named on the labels from all parts of Britain, Ireland, and even as far afield as India. Derek Fraser, ed., A History of Modern Leeds, 1980. Quarto (254 x 180 mm). Approximately 2,000 printed labels mounted on 502 pp. of pink paper, thumb index lettered in manuscript at front. With 8 "ordinary slip labels" loosely inserted. Recent dark brown quarter morocco, black label, dark green cloth sides. With 20th-century bookplate of Robert J. Hayhurst, Lancashire pharmacist and businessman. Contents lightly soiled, else in very good condition.

Seller Inventory # 185953

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Album of pharmaceutical label samples.
• Publisher: Leeds: Harrison & Waide, c.1900