[Bill-Poster's Dream] with advertisements for "Quick Passage to Australia!!" and "To California via the Overland Route"

New York: Lith. of Chas. Hart, 99 Fulton Street, 1866. A rare print illustrating a New York City street scene. A bill poster sleeping in the lower right leaning against a street lamp; and young woman adjusting her shoes on the left. On a wall stating "Post No Bills" there is a panoply of handbills. The handbills are a microcosm of the issues of the day incl. Barnums Museum, lectures by Horace Greeley, Artemus Ward and Henry Ward Beecher; "The Woman in White" at Barnums and "Quick Passage!! for Australia!! The Fast Sailing Copper Bottom Clipper" and "To California via the Overland Route".

This copy missing the title below the image, but recorded ONLY at the American Antiquarian Society as number #152237 as (No. 2) Bill-Poster's Dream, (No. 2) Cross Reading to be read downwards. Published by August Brentano. Bookseller & Stationer, 708, Broadway, New York. This copy with an indistinct registration date, 186? but conforms with AAS # 152237.

Below the print text - Derby, Del. / Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 186? by C. H. Derby, in the Clerks office of the district Court for the Southern district of New York / Lith. of Chas Hart, 99 Fulton St. N.Y. 14 5/8 x 19 3/4". Archivally restored, adding some short tears and loss. Original color on the bills has been retained.

The bills posted are Barnums Museum Great Attraction; Wax Works just added Representing Jeff Davis! In Petticoats...; Fat Woman and Nova Scotia Ghiantess (sic); the Woman in White (one night only, Barnum's Museum); Mammoth Fat Woman weighs 780 pounds; Medical - Lying-In Hospital now open Bloomingda(le)...; Take Brandreth's Pills; Take Dr. Blollus's Strengthening Pills; Use Helmbold's Buchu for a Shattered Constitution (sic); Benefit of the New York Foundling Hospital; Selpho's Patent Artificial Legs & Arms;
Temperance & Liquor - Temperance Lecture John B. Gough; Try Blancan Old Bourbon Whiskey; Sewit's Old Rye Whiskey; Drake's Plantation Bitters St.- 1860 - X; The American Temperance Society Entertainment - Edwin Forest at Niblos Garden'; Old Bowery Theatre Fifth Week Thrilling Drama of the Forty Thieves...; Olympic Theatre- Benefit of Mrs. John Wood; Fashion Course - Great Match Between Black Bess and ... (horse race); Long Island Railroad; Fall and Winter Arrangment (sic). Personalities - Henry Ward Beecher, Artemus Ward; Miss Anna Dickenson... for Woman's Rights; Adda Isaacs Menken; Horace Greeley. Cooper Institute - Bassford's House Furnishing Bazaar; Henry Ward Beecher at Cooper Institute to night; Bryants Minstrels- Hoope de Dooden Do ; Hunkee Do Ree;
Political - Republican Nomination for Governor; Great Union Mass Meeting - Reconstruction North & South - The Federal Government will... of the United States... for ever... Rally!!;
Emigration - Quick Passage !! For Australia!! The Fast Sailing Copper Bottom Clipper;
To California via the Overland Route".

A very rare print, albeit imperfect, known in only one copy.