A STARTLING OFFER!" -- Advertising Oleographs in Wholesale

Cincinnati, Ohio: The Wm. M. Donaldson Co, 1880. Very good. Toned with letter folds, short tears.. Printed advertising flyer for The William M. Donaldson Co., publishers of "fine oleographs in sheet". The flyer promotes their sale of the prints at wholesale prices, for stores to stock in time for the Christmas season. Oleographs were most popular in the second half of the 19th century, and involved using up to thirty lithographic stones to produce a textured lithograph that mimicked the look and feel of an oil painting. The result was an affordable way for middle-class families to have art in their home. The flyer features a reproduction of one of the prints, showing a jolly Santa Claus, with a list of the other titles available in the lower left-hand corner. Measures approx. 11.75" by 9", verso blank. The Wm. M. Donaldson Co., also referred to as the Donaldson Lithographing Co., was founded in 1863 by Henry Elms and William M. Donaldson. They were best known for bright, colorful circus and entertainment posters.