Sunday, January 13, 2013

Raw Data: 1790 Price List for Boots & Shoes, Philadelphia

In preparing primary source documents for my upcoming course in Museum Studies and Material Culture (History Department, University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA), I return to key documents relating to American cordwaining. The price list is significant as a published, public document, which provides a useful baseline for comparative pricing in urban communities vs. rural communities, seacoast vs. inland, and so on. Note also that the broadside refers to the "Master Cordwainers," suggestive of its roots in the British guild and apprenticeship system.

The document has been published in numerous historical imprint volumes.
1790 Child's Shoes Made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Worn by Mary Locksley.

Dark green leather, bound with ecru linen ribbon; Lined with light brown plain weave linen; medium brown leather soles 6 x 2 inches (15.2 x 5.1 cm)

Courtesy, Philadelphia Museum of Art

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