Deck the Halls
To celebrate the Christmas season, join us as we pull out a few festive trade cards from Fall River’s retail past.
We begin with a simple yet elegant illustration of peeling birch bark against a black background. Sprigs of bright holly berries and mistletoe poke through holes in the bark, adding a touch of color. The creamy bark is the perfect canvas for the advertisement of “Robinson’s Oatmeal Glycerine” soap, touted as being “made of the very best materials”.
While this trade card may be from the early 1880s, oatmeal glycerin soap is still a fan favorite today. Glycerin helps skin retain moisture, while oatmeal is a natural and gentle exfoliant; both perfect ingredients to combat dry winter skin!
But the question remains: Where could someone purchase this soap in Fall River?
Thankfully, the trade card provides the answer; printed atop the advertisement is the information for E.S. Anthony. Edward Shove Anthony (1845-1900) was a druggist in Fall River from 1878 to 1895. In a time before modern pharmacies, a druggist would prepare medicine and sell dry goods, such as soaps and creams. A moisturizing bathroom soap would be a staple on the shelves of Anthony’s store.
Perhaps a bar of Robinson’s Oatmeal Glycerine soap made its way into a Christmas stocking!