The Brooklyn Public Library has a wonderful digitized collection of late 19th century business cards from hundreds of shops and companies located in the teeming city of Brooklyn.
They’re whimsical and imaginative—and some honor the cold weather while advertising their goods, like J.V. Dubernell, tailor.
His shop was at 331 and 333 Fulton Avenue, and his suits sound kind of expensive for the era.
That’s some sled illustrated in this card, for this clothing store, which comes off like the L.L. Bean of the time. Check out these prices for trendy wool cloaks!
This sweet scene advertises the business of a paint dealer. Sumpter Street is in today’s Bedford-Stuyvesant, quite a bit away from the other businesses, which are located closer to downtown Brooklyn in what was the fashionable shopping area of the time.
Perhaps a paint store was not welcome on refined Fulton Street?
Tags: Brooklyn business cards, Brooklyn businesses, Brooklyn in the 19th century, illustrations of Brooklyn, Victorian Brooklyn, vintage business cards, Winter in Brooklyn
Ephemeral New York 
January 23, 2013 at 2:12 am |
Thanks for this post. I’m going to share it on my Old Brooklyn blog. I’ve used the Library’s resources before for the cards and it’s great they have this. They also have the Old Brooklyn Daily Eagle archives available to read and download copies too.
January 23, 2013 at 2:13 am |
Reblogged this on The Realm Of Olde Brooklyn and commented:
More old Business postcards courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library.
January 23, 2013 at 2:20 am |
They have a terrific collection of Brooklyn ephemera…and they’re a great library too!