Trade Card: Thomas Harper Copper Plate Printer and Stationer
Dateca. 1750
Designer
Mathew Lock
Engraver
Evans
OriginEngland, London
MediumEtching and line engraving on laid paper
DimensionsOverall: 6 5/16 × 5 1/2in. (16 × 14cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase, The Friends of Colonial Williamsburg Collections Fund
Object number2024-7
DescriptionTrade card. Title read: "Thomas Harper/ Copper Plate Printer/ and Stationer,/ at the Bible in King Street Seven Dials, London/ All manner of Copper Plates neatly Printed/ Likewise Sells all sorts of Stationary Wares./ Wholesale & Retail."Label TextThis trade card for Thomas Harper borrows its central design from an earlier advertisement for the shop of George Beacher (see 2023-3). At some point, the names of the designer and engraver of the trade card were removed. Copies at the British Museum and Metropolitain Museum of Art bear the imprints of "M. Lock Inv.t" (Matthias/Matthew Lock) and "J. Evans Sculp."
ProvenanceBefore 2023, Thomas Heneage (London); 2024-present purchased by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA).
ca. 1740
1756-1786
19th century strike from original 1720 plate
1797-1810
1784-1804
March 31, 1751