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  • Collection of 19th c. Printed Paper Rewards of Merit

Collection of 19th c. Printed Paper Rewards of Merit

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$145.00
$145.00
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Collection of 3 printed paper rewards.


Reward of merit presented to H. Wolcott, by E. G. Cary


Reward of merit presented to Ella Wolcott, by E. G. Cary


Reward of merit presented to Esther Saukott, by E. F. Brooks - Brooks Seminary for Young Ladies, Poughkeepsie, NY

(Purchased 1978 from Rosemary Geiger, antiques and ephemera, Pleasant Valley, NY)


Notes from the Henry Ford Museum:

"During the 19thc, teachers recognized students with paper "rewards of merit." These small tokens commended a student's excellent work, perfect attendance, good behavior or other noteworthy accomplishment. Some contained simple handwritten sentiments from the teacher to the pupil. Many were printed and colorful, with space available to write in the student's name as well as their own."


Notes from the American Antiquarian:

"Rewards of merit, small tokens of congratulation given to students for good behavior and scholastic accomplishments, have been utilized by teachers for generations. The practice was most popular during the nineteenth century when printing techniques evolved to make this form of ephemera more readily available. A majority of the surviving rewards of merit are printed, as opposed to hand drawn and painted examples that involved significant artistic effort."


"Rewards of merit, in addition to being examples of a nineteenth century classroom tool, reveal the progress of printing in America as well as the priorities of educators and disciplinarians of the time."



CONDITION:

Foxing to paper ground. Some mild creases.

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