Ream Wrappers
The paper mill label or ream wrapper
has become a collector's item, as well as an item of historical
significance.
The pictorial art depicted on the labels has provided historians
with a
view of both the interior and the exterior of these extinct mills,
including
employees at work, equipment and the basic layout of the mill and
its
surrounding lands.
Like illustrated handbill advertising of the time, papermakers
hoped
that buyers would appeal to the sense of artistic quality of the
pictorial
label, and gave much thought to what was to be presented on the
wrapper.
Many of these illustrations were created by the artist
Dr. Alexander Anderson
(1775-1870) and were elaborate and realistic in content. Symbols
such
as the phoenix, which represented fire, and the eagle, for
strength and
the symbol of the United States, were common on these labels.
Ream wrappers vary in size since they were produced to fit the
reams
of paper. The illustrations on many of these wrappers were created
by
wood engravings, which were executed by a knife and other carving
utensils.
The engraving was usually done on the end-grain, which was a very
durable
surface.
The ream wrapper collection is arranged alphabetically by the
first name
of the company, if given, and is maintained in the Graphic Arts
Department.
This collection currently contains fifty-seven
items.
-Tracy Putzel-Bischoff
|
A ream wrapper for Calvin Shepard, Jr., Rail Road Mill, Framingham,
Massachusetts.
* Ream
Wrapper
Collection
Inventory
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