Argy58
Whitehead & Hoag Co. Makers of Badges, Flags, Banners.....(May 10th, 1898)
This outstanding, original 'date stamped' American envelope (May 10th, 1898), not only promotes the diverse badge making business of Whitehead & Hoag but gives a snapshot of late 19th Century graphic design and illustration. The ornamentation of the letterforms, characterised by extensive 'drop shadowing' was a typical embellishment of the period as was the contrasting use of black, to create the illusion of grey. The detailed illustrations of the badge variations clearly advertise the company's product offering and dovetails with the typographic arrangement. In addition, the handwritten scripted address enhances the overall graphic effect.
Based in Newark, New Jersey, Whitehead & Hoag Co were one of the leading pinback/button badge manufacturers in the USA from the late 19th Century to the mid 20th Century. Pioneers in badge design and construction, they became closely associated with political and presidential campaign button badge manufacturing and their variety of badges were covered by a series of patents, the first of which was issued on June 14th, 1892 with its 'Waving Flag' patent. Other patents soon followed:
October 18th, 1892 - 'Badge Bar' patent
March 7th,1893 - 'Badge Bar' patent
June 12th, 1894 - 'Medallion' patent
November 27th, 1894 - 'Design' patent
December 4th, 1894 - 'Design' patent
December 11th, 1894 - 'Design' patent
July 17th, 1894 - 'Button Pin' patent
December 5th, 1895 - 'Hanger' patent
February 25th, 1896 - 'Reversible Medallion' patent
April 14th, 1896 - 'Button Pin' patent
November 7th, 1897 - 'Celluloid Medallion Patent'
Formed in 1892 by Benjamin S Whitehead (1858-1940) and Chester R Hoag (1860-1935) the company became one of the largest badge manufacturers in the world and although they did make hard vitreous enamel badges and medals, it was their celluloid and ribbon badges that dominated their output. Along with the popularity of the afore mentioned political and presidential campaign buttons, Whitehead & Hoag created a vast range of fraternal/celebration badges for various groups - as detailed on the above envelope cover. The phenomenal growth of American fraternal orders at the tail end of the 19th and early 20th Century created a fantastic badge market for Whitehead & Hoag to exploit. The company used a range of artists for button badge designs, medals and novelties including, at various stages, Norman Rockwell, Maxfield Parrish and Harrison Fisher.
Towards the end of the 19th Century, Whitehead & Hoag set up branch offices in major cities overseas and samplers would be sent from Newark to branch office salesmen in order to target prospective organisations and companies (this operation closed down at the onset of WW11).
After dominating the badge market for over 60 years, Whitehead & Hoag sold out to its major rivals Bastian Bros., of Rochester N.Y. This took place in 1959 although the Whitehead & Hoag name was used by Bastian Bros., until the mid 1960s.
Photography, layout and design: Argy58
(This image also exists as a high resolution jpeg and tiff - ideal for a variety of print sizes
e.g. A4, A3, A2 and A1. The current uploaded format is for screen based viewing only: 72pi)
Whitehead & Hoag Co. Makers of Badges, Flags, Banners.....(May 10th, 1898)
This outstanding, original 'date stamped' American envelope (May 10th, 1898), not only promotes the diverse badge making business of Whitehead & Hoag but gives a snapshot of late 19th Century graphic design and illustration. The ornamentation of the letterforms, characterised by extensive 'drop shadowing' was a typical embellishment of the period as was the contrasting use of black, to create the illusion of grey. The detailed illustrations of the badge variations clearly advertise the company's product offering and dovetails with the typographic arrangement. In addition, the handwritten scripted address enhances the overall graphic effect.
Based in Newark, New Jersey, Whitehead & Hoag Co were one of the leading pinback/button badge manufacturers in the USA from the late 19th Century to the mid 20th Century. Pioneers in badge design and construction, they became closely associated with political and presidential campaign button badge manufacturing and their variety of badges were covered by a series of patents, the first of which was issued on June 14th, 1892 with its 'Waving Flag' patent. Other patents soon followed:
October 18th, 1892 - 'Badge Bar' patent
March 7th,1893 - 'Badge Bar' patent
June 12th, 1894 - 'Medallion' patent
November 27th, 1894 - 'Design' patent
December 4th, 1894 - 'Design' patent
December 11th, 1894 - 'Design' patent
July 17th, 1894 - 'Button Pin' patent
December 5th, 1895 - 'Hanger' patent
February 25th, 1896 - 'Reversible Medallion' patent
April 14th, 1896 - 'Button Pin' patent
November 7th, 1897 - 'Celluloid Medallion Patent'
Formed in 1892 by Benjamin S Whitehead (1858-1940) and Chester R Hoag (1860-1935) the company became one of the largest badge manufacturers in the world and although they did make hard vitreous enamel badges and medals, it was their celluloid and ribbon badges that dominated their output. Along with the popularity of the afore mentioned political and presidential campaign buttons, Whitehead & Hoag created a vast range of fraternal/celebration badges for various groups - as detailed on the above envelope cover. The phenomenal growth of American fraternal orders at the tail end of the 19th and early 20th Century created a fantastic badge market for Whitehead & Hoag to exploit. The company used a range of artists for button badge designs, medals and novelties including, at various stages, Norman Rockwell, Maxfield Parrish and Harrison Fisher.
Towards the end of the 19th Century, Whitehead & Hoag set up branch offices in major cities overseas and samplers would be sent from Newark to branch office salesmen in order to target prospective organisations and companies (this operation closed down at the onset of WW11).
After dominating the badge market for over 60 years, Whitehead & Hoag sold out to its major rivals Bastian Bros., of Rochester N.Y. This took place in 1959 although the Whitehead & Hoag name was used by Bastian Bros., until the mid 1960s.
Photography, layout and design: Argy58
(This image also exists as a high resolution jpeg and tiff - ideal for a variety of print sizes
e.g. A4, A3, A2 and A1. The current uploaded format is for screen based viewing only: 72pi)