Children at Play – Object #10

Toys, toys, toys!

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<p>This is a half page vertical advertisement for a toy store, with varying fonts to capture the reader’s attention.</p>

Newspaper Ad, The Temple of Enchantment, Boston, 1860

Excerpts

Toys, Toys, Toys! AT WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. The Temple of Enchantment. J. F. LOTTS, 97 HANOVER STREET, Returns his thanks to the public for their patronage in years past, and respectfully solicits a continuance of favors. He invites all to call at his Store, 97 Hanover Street, where those possessing the most fastidious and refined tastes will be amply repaid for their inspection of his beautiful new assortment of TOYS AND FANCY GOODS! New Goods Just Received from France and Germany. Indistructable Birds for Infants, Zouvave Caps, Seventh Regiment Hats, Pompoom Hats, Swords, Guns, Pop Guns, Fifes, Flutes, Whistles, Drums, American Flags of all sizes, and every description of Military Equipments. New French CRY DOLLS! Wax Dolls, Paris Dolls, beautiful China Dolls. China Dolls with Cloth Bodies, Kid Dolls, Cry Dolls, English Rag Dolls for Infants, Doll Bodies and Kid Arms, Dressed Dolls, and Dolls Dressed to order in splendid style.—NEW ENGLISH TRUMPETS Called the “ PRINCE OF WALES. ” New Toy—the OLD WINDMILL —turns one hour. Philadelphia Bugs, New Toy Fire Grates, Coal Scuttles, Cooking Stoves, Tin Kitchens, Porcelain Lined Ware, Plated Toy Spoons, Knives and Forks, Drumming Rabbits, Rabbits on Wheels, for Small Children. Wooly Dogs, Lambs, Rabbits, &c., &c. PIANO FORTES, From one octave to three, clasic chords, all sizes and prices. New style of Tea Sets, Dining Sets and Chamber Sets, just opened. New styles of Bureaus, Book Cases, Sets of Jewelry for Dolls, Doll Cribbs, Willow Wagons and Chaises, New Games for the Holidays, Dissected Pictures, Dissected Maps, Cube Blocks, Buildings, Blocks, Transparent Slates, Paint Boxes, German Game Balls, &c. OUR PET ALPHABET;
Combination Alphabet, Pictorial Alphabet, Hill’s Alphabet, Painted in Oil Colors, Toy Books, Picture Books, Indistructable Books, Chamber Furniture—Rich Sets of Parlor Furniture, KITCHEN FURNITURE. Every variety of MECHANICAL TOYS! NEW AND SPLENDID MAGNETIC CHARIOT! DRAWN BY SWANS!
Ducks, Fish, Swans, and every variety of Grocery Stores, Tool-Boxes, Children’s Carriages, from $5.00 to $20. Rocking Horses, in great variety, from $2 to $14. Ladies’ Leather Bags from 75 cents to $5.00. Port Monnaies, Money Bags, Card Cases, Hair Brushes, Writing Desks, China Vases, Cologne Bottles and every variety of China Ornaments, Reticules, Back Gammon Boards, &c. FAIRS Furnished with Goods at the shortest notice. All of the above named articles may be found at J. F. Lotts, 97 Hanover Street, Between Elm and Friend Streets, . . . BOSTON. Great Stock of Toys for Girls and Boys, Can be found at Francis Lotts; From parlor rig to Penny Gig, And little iron pots. Great pussy Cats and long-tailed Rats, With many a curious thing. He sells Babes that speak, yet do not eat, And Birds that sweetly sing. So then good friends your ears do lend, While this I tell to you— Go where you will, see what you may, Lotts can show you something new. Geo. B. Hamlin, Printer, 131 Hanover Street, (Opposite the Blackstone Bank,) Boston.

Questions:

What toys do you see in this listed on this poster? Do children today play with any of these toys?

Why do you think this primary source was created?

Who was the audience for the poster?

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Citations

Lotts, J. F. Toys, toys, toys! at wholesale and retail. The temple of enchantment. J. F. Lotts …. Boston. Geo. B. Hamlin, printer, 131 Hanover Street. Boston, 1860. Library of Congress Printed Ephemera Collection.