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Historic Richmond Town

Object Record

front view
reverse (back view)
detail of Siegel Cooper Co. advertisement on reverse
Object Name Fan
Date 1899 copyright
Description Rigid fan (handscreen). Round cardboard leaf is stapled to a wooden stick. The front of the leaf has a blue printed illustration of the globe. The United States is shown as a red, white, and blue American flag (with a separate flag over Alaska); above and below the U.S. are areas labeled "BRITISH AMERICA" and "CENTRAL AMERICA." Small American flags are shown at areas labeled "Philippine Is.", "Ladrone Is.", "Hawaii Is.", "Cuba," and "Porto Rico." Printed inscription around the border: "ANNAPOLIS 1854. GEORGE DEWEY. BORN DECEMBER 26, 1837. GRADUATED 1858. MOBILE AUG. 5th 1864. WHERE OLD GLORY FLOATS. MANILA MAY 1st 1898." Separate inscription in small print: "COPYRIGHTED 1899 WM. C. POPPER & CO. N.Y." The reverse side of the leaf has a green printed illustration of a statue, with inscription above and below: "MEET AT THE FOUNTAIN -- THE COOLEST SPOT IN NEW YORK / THE BIG STORE / A CITY IN ITSELF / SIEGEL COOPER CO. / SIXTH AVE. 18TH & 19TH STS." Made in the United States.
(Keywords: Accessory, Commemorative, Retail)
Acquisition Gift of Ruth Merrill
Ownership and History Siegel Cooper, popularly known as "The Big Store," opened its New York City location in 1896. The 6-story building was located on Sixth Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets. The fountain which is illustrated on the reverse side of this fan was a notable feature on the first floor of the store. It was a replica of Daniel Chester French's statue "The Republic," and it stood inside a marble fountain. The store used "Meet at the fountain" as a slogan.

The New York store closed in 1917. The building still stands.
Earliest Date 1899
Latest Date 1905
Maker Wm. C. Popper & Co.
Material Cardboard/Wood
Subjects Advertising
Fans
Stores & shops
Department stores
Lexicon Sub-category Advertising Medium
Catalog Number 58.007.0013
Support Acknowledgment Online Collections Database record made possible by the Fan Association of North America (FANA), 2013. (www.fanassociation.org)
Legal Status Items represented here are from the collections of the Staten Island Historical Society. Materials reproduced for personal non-commercial use must credit the Staten Island Historical Society. Commercial licensing is available.