November, 1912 
with its gayly flowered wall- 
paper covering. 
Some of the boxes have a 
distinctly historical value in 
that they preserve much of 
the history and romance of 
the times. Pictorially they 
faithfully reproduce many 
familiar land marks in col- 
ors which have all the deli- 
cacy and charm of old Japa- 
nese prints. Though bright, 
the colors are never crude, 
for the dyes of vegetable origin, bear little or no resem- 
blance either as to harmony or permanency,’ to their 
cheaper and less pleasing aniline prototype to-day. 
Printed from handwrought wood blocks, which impart 
a firm rich body of color, the method employed is only 
equalled by the novelty and originality of design. In effect, 
they compare favorably with the work of the best poster 
artists to-day, except in the matter of color, for modern 
commercial art cannot touch the Colonial yellows, the rare 
ultramarines, the old china pinks or the cool hemlock 
greens, which spread themselves so charmingly over the 
expansive surface of the old time bandbox. 
Old landmarks which were immortalized by the bandbox 
chronicle were The First Capitol at Washington, ‘The First 
Capitol at Albany, Castle Garden—while it was still an 
island—the old New York Post Office and the New York 
Deaf and Dumb Asylum. The Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius 
was the somewhat disturbing subject that aroused one artist 
to enthusiasm. It bore a resemblance in its soft gray and 
white coloring to the Washington Memorial paper adopted 
when all the nation went into mourning for the Father of 
His Country. 
In the windmill and railroad bandbox a model of the 
first steam train is shown with a “‘postery” background .in 
which a primitive windmill is prominently displayed. Both 
the simplicity of treatment and the coloring make the de- 
sign worthy of the prominent place it now holds framed 
and hanging on the wall of a collector’s library. Among 
the heroes of the day, Napoleon was a favorite subject for 
the designer of old-time wall paper, and his return from 
Moscow is reproduced in spirited fashion while Zachary 
Taylor in characteristic pose awaits developments on a 
tented camp ground. 
In the same category are lively scenes depicting infantry 
and cavalry at drill. Of sylvan views there are many show- 
The “Windmill” 
AMERICAN HOMES 
bandbox, showing picture of the first railway 
385 
ing bosks and dells, Colo- 
nial farm houses with primi- 
tive surroundings and to 
contrast with which, there 
are classic temples, marble 
fountains, formal gardens 
and charioteers in gorgeous 
raiment driving prancing 
steeds that threaten to leap 
from their setting in the ex- 
citement of their mad ca- 
Reet, 
At the New York Metro- 
politan Museum of Art, a charming specimen of bandbox of 
the year 1800 is to be seen in the Bolles collection and at 
Van Courtlandt Mansion, Van Courtlandt Park, others 
have been preserved. It is occasionally in some isolated in- 
stance, as in one of a small collection loaned by Mr. Drake 
to the D. A. R. Museum at the Jumel Mansion that a hint of 
a maker of bandboxes is obtained. Inside the cover on a 
label, yellowed with age, there was found printed this 
AND GARDENS 
legend :— 
BANDBOX 
MADE BY HANNAH DAVIS, 
EAST JAFFREY, N. H. 
To the average collector, this tantalizing inscription 
is sufficient to cause curiosity to run riot for some clue 
to the identity of Hannah, the maker of bandboxes. And 
while commonly the result would be only a matter of con- 
jecture, fortunately in this instance, speculation is lost in 
knowledge. For curiously enough, a little old lady visiting 
the Museum one day not long since, espied the interesting 
relics reposing in the bed chamber that once belonged to 
Madame Jumel. 
‘““Wihy, those look like Hannah Davis’s bandboxes,” ex- 
claimed the little woman in amazement. 
‘So they are,’’ replied the Curator, “let me show you,” 
and suiting the action to the word, he withdrew the cover 
and held it up for her inspection. Reminiscences of 
Hannah, the bandbox maker, followed. 
“T can see her now,” went on the visitor, her eyes bright- 
ening at the recollection, ‘‘as she used to come to our 
village with her sleigh piled up with bandboxes. I lived in 
in the next town and my mother always saved our old news- 
papers with which to line the boxes.” 
And even as the reconteur stated the boxes were all neatly 
lined with newspapers of the date of 1855. A perusal of 
(Continued on page 408) 
These two bandboxes in the Drake collection are typical specimens of those in general use a century ago 
