Trade card for Congers' Patent "Chest-Shield" undershirt

trade card

Trade card for Congers' Patent "Chest-Shield" undershirt; color lithograph illustration copyrighted 1882 by J. H. Bufford's Sons, Boston, titled upper left "PREPARING FOR A JOURNEY", shows men and dogsleds on the ice with ship's masts visible in the distance; printed lower right "Leaving the Ship for a week or so/ To sell "Chest-Shields" to the Esquimaux." Printed on back is advertisement for Congers' patent "chest-shield" undershirt, made of "Merino and all Wool", and printed "The 'Chest-Shield' in Scarlet is recommended particularly, for its great anti-rheumatic qualities." and "For sale by/ A. W. PERKINS,/ NOANK, Conn." F. Calabretta notes: The American public was fascinated with the polar exploration a the time this card was published in 1882. In fact, two American Arctic expeditions were active that year.