Antique 1902 The Clauss Shear Company Alphabet Primer Advertisement

Scarce 1902 Advertising Booklet Child's Alphabet Primer with Outstanding Illustrations Accompanied by Rhymes for a Major World Manufacturer of Scissors and Shearsin Ohio, USA No author. CLAUSS PRIMER . Cleveland Privately printed for the Clauss Shear Co., Fremont, OH by Manz-Holilister, 1902.

Edition unknown, but probable first (if there was a previous issue, it would have been after 1898 because of the internal allusion to the Battle of San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War). Customized on the back wrap with overprinting for A. L. L. Scoville, Agent, Seneca, KS. 12mo (5.5x 8.25") stapled in pictorial paper wraps; illustrated on every page in shades of red, orange, and yellow; exceptionally nice advertising promotional for the Clauss Shear Co. with a half-page illustration for each letter of the alphabet accompanied by a 4-line rhyme.

The front cover depicts a winged fairy riding a moth and two gnomes reading an alphabet book. The back cover shows the gnomes balancing on a pair of open Clauss shears like circus acrobats.

The page ornaments are in the Art Nouveau style. The illustrations show people in attire and engaged in pastimes of the turn of the 20th century. The women have "Gibson Girl" type bouffant updo hairstyles, high-collared wide-sleeved blouses, and oversized hats; the young boys are in knee pants and sailor collars; and the girls have long hair and oversized hair ribbons. One illustration shows a man stropping his own straight razor, and in another the Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders are depicted storming San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War (1898).

Advertising pieces in the form of children's alphabet books were not uncommon in this era. But this one is larger and more handsomely illustrated than most. The rhymes for some letters are without reference to Clauss Shear Co. but most make specific mention of Clauss scissors, shears, or other products.