Theatrical Poster Cuts

This poster is a miniature sample of a full-size theatrical poster design from 1869. The Ledger Job Printing Office produced catalogs of miniature poster designs to show theatrical companies and other performers the kinds of posters they could order. The sample features a large, glowing firefly with bold, Victorian-style text. At the bottom of the design, the catalog states that 100 full-size posters cost $10.

This poster advertises Fire Fly; or, Friend of the Flag, a play featuring Lotta Crabtree in the title role. Back in the 1800s, theatrical groups traveled constantly. Instead of paying an artist to design a brand-new poster for every town, they could order stock designs from printing companies, saving time and money.