I was looking for advertisements for "The Hound of the Baskervilles" in Australia, and came across this reference to a delightful American advertisement.
The Queenslander - Sat 19 Jul 1902
LITERARY ADVERTISING IN " THE STATES."
This is how Messrs. M'Clure, Phillips, and Co., of New York, advertise the American edition of "The Hound of the Baskervilles":—
This is how Messrs. M'Clure, Phillips, and Co., of New York, advertise the American edition of "The Hound of the Baskervilles":—
Observe the Messenger Boy, how he runs !
Is not this Unusual?
It is positively Abnormal.
And its Cause ?
He Goes in a Hurry for a Man.
To fetch a Doctor ?
No,—to Fetch a Book.
What Book ?
"The Hound, of the Baskervilles"
How Surprised and Gratified the Man will be to Get his Book so Soon !
He will not.
Why so?
The Messenger Boy has Heartl of that Book.
Well ?
He will Dip Into it.
Yes ?
He will Dip Into it.
Yes ?
And see the Name of Sherlock Holmes.
And then ?
He will Seat himself on the Mossy Curb, and he will Read, and Read, and Read.
But the Man :— What of Him ?
He will Tear his Hair and Cuss.
Is that All ?
No ; he will Rake up another Dollar, and a half and will Hustle to the Bookstore himself.
Wise Man !
Happy Messenger Boy!
Beautiful. This advertisement first appeared in three New York newspapers on the same date (Saturday, May 3, 1902): The New York Times, The Sun, and The Brooklyn Eagle. From there it appeared in a wide range of papers.
Note: The messenger boy's hat appears to state 'A.D.T. 13'. An ADT messenger boy was an employee of the American District Telegraph company (ADT) in the early 20th century. The delivered messages and ran errands. These messenger boys would use call boxes to be requested by customers to take messages to places like Western Union.
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While I'm drifting towards America, here's a lovely version of the man on the torr as part of the Hound story being run in the Omaha World-Herald (Sun, Sep 21, 1902 ·Page 21).
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