This unusual atlas was designed to advertise Arbuckle's Coffee. The atlas is printed on loose pages held together with original twisted string tie. This oblong 4to atlas has 12 sheets, each with four beautiful chromolithographic maps, plus the covers. The front pictorial cover features a fine bird's-eye view of the Capitol building in Washington with an eagle and small map of the District of Columbia on the U.S. shield. The back cover, which is not present on this example, has a map of Alaska surrounded by regional views. Each of the 48 interior maps is surrounded by vignettes showing the beauty and commerce of the state, with text on the facing page describing the state or territory. Each of the maps is beautifully lithographed in full color.

Beginning in the mid-1880's, the Arbuckle Bros. Coffee Company began to include advertising cards, commonly referred to as "trade cards" in packages of their coffee. This was a common device used by companies of the time to tout the virtues of their products. But the Arbuckle company carried the concept a step further and created a series of very desirable images. They then encouraged their customers to collect the entire series of cards and to trade cards with their neighbors in order to complete their sets. Thus, "trade" cards began to evolve into "trading" cards.

Arbuckle issued a great variety of cards including birds, animals, cooking, satire, sports and maps. The map series, U.S. States and Nations of the World, were extremely popular. Both series were reissued in album format, available from the company as a mail-order premium. These fascinating cards and albums are still actively collected today, more than 120 years after they were issued. The original Arbuckle Bros. Coffee Company, on the other hand, vanished from the scene over 65 years ago.

This example includes an original used mailing envelope from Arbuckle Bros., complete with a vignette illustration of their headquarters.

References:

Condition: B+

The maps are clean and bright with the typical light toning and offsetting to the text on versos. There are a few chipped corners and a couple tiny edge tears. Front cover has a small chip and a couple tears at bottom left, light soiling, and light shelf wear along the edges. Rear cover is missing. Original string ties are present and intact. Original mailing envelope is toned with light staining and minor wear.