The Piece
A vibrant late-Victorian chromolithograph advertising poster for D. M. Ferry & Co.’s Standard Seeds, copyrighted 1891, and printed in the United States. The image shows six cheerful children in winter dress raising their hands beneath the spirited slogan “All Hands Up for Ferry’s Standard Seeds!” This lively, sentimental style typified late-19th-century American seed advertising—appealing to households through warmth, optimism, and family imagery. Surviving examples of this poster are scarce, as most were ephemeral store displays meant for a single planting season.
Design & Construction
→ Form & Style:
Vertical chromolithograph in full color with a balanced composition of playful figures and decorative Victorian typography. The title lettering in red and yellow scrollwork captures the exuberance of Gilded Age commercial art, while the softly modeled children reflect the American Realist influence popular in late-century advertising.
→ Material:
Color lithograph on medium-weight cream wove paper with matte surface. The impression retains its original palette—rosy flesh tones, sky-blue ground, and golden text highlights—typical of stone lithography ca. 1890.
→ Frame / Mounting:
Period-appropriate gilt wood frame with narrow molded profile and glass front; likely an early-20th-century framing for domestic display once the poster was retired from store use.
History & Provenance
D. M. Ferry & Co., founded in Detroit in 1856, became one of America’s largest seed producers by the 1890s, distributing illustrated catalogues and colorful wall posters nationwide. The 1891 copyright situates this print in the firm’s most active promotional decade, preceding its eventual merger with Morse Seed Co. in 1930. Examples of Ferry’s advertising art are held in collections such as the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
Condition
Good antique condition overall. Slight paper losses and edge nicks at right margin, minor toning, and light surface abrasions consistent with age. Color remains bright and fully legible; structurally stable and ready for continued framed display.
Product Details
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Maker / Printer | Likely Gretten Litho Co. or Donaldson Brothers, New York / Detroit |
| Origin | United States |
| Year | 1891 |
| Medium | Chromolithograph on wove paper |
| Finish | Matte surface with gilt wood frame |
| Mount | Wall-hung under glass |
| Size | Approx. 14 × 28 in. framed (measure to confirm) |
| Condition | Good; minor edge wear and light toning |
| Markings | “Copyrighted 1891” printed in lower right margin |
Why It Belongs in Your Home
This original 1891 advertising lithograph embodies the optimism and artistry of late-Victorian America. Its bright color, smiling children, and finely drawn typography capture the warmth of the era’s domestic marketing, while its rarity lends historic and decorative value. Perfect for a kitchen, sunroom, or gallery wall, it brings a touch of agrarian nostalgia and early-industrial design heritage to any setting.