5.5.1 Illustrated Trade card of William Jackson’s Brazen Head shop, c.1769

Description

William Jackson, a general merchant in Boston, Massachusetts, operated a shop called the Brazen Head that stood next to the Town House, the town’s commercial center. This elaborately engraved trade card would have informed consumers of the variety of goods available at his shop. These included textiles, cutlery, glass products, and spices. In the 18th century, cards such as these served as a type of advertising and often had receipts for merchandise written by the merchant on their reverse.