The scores on Emma Crouse’s Scholar’s Certificate, dated January 22, 1885, indicate that she did well in reading, writing, arithmetic, and other subjects.

Emma's teacher, Peter G. Shelley (1862–1938), was only 22 years old when he filled out this certificate. He continued to teach for many years, and the U.S. Census for 1910 and 1920 listed his occupation as teacher.

The title typeface is an ornamented Tuscan carried by various American foundries. The earliest known showing so far is in Boston Type Foundry’s Condensed Specimen Book from 1860, as Two-Line Small Pica Ornamented, No. 2.

Scholars’ Certificate.
It Is Hereby Certified That
Emma Crouse
is a scholar of Richfield, advanced School and has passed an examination in the following branches with the annexed results:

• Composition 99
• Orthography 100
• Reading 99
• Writing 95
• Arithmetic 100
• Geography 100
• Grammar 95
• U S Hist —
• Drawing 95
• Declamation 99
• Logic 96
• Deportment 100
• Attendance 100
• Tardiness 1 time
• Average —

P. G. Shelley, Teacher.
Jan’y 22, 1885. Richfield, Juniata Co., Pennsylvania.
Explanation.--No. 100 signifies very good; 90, good; 80, middling; 70, poor; 60, very poor.
Bellwood Independent Print.
No. ______

A late nineteenth-century business card for Henry Swartz's dry goods store in York, Pennsylvania. Printed in two colors, the card shows a smorgasbord of typefaces, as it was common in the Victorian era. “Henry Swartz” is set in Antique Extended (light), a precursor of Hellenic Wide. “Dry Goods” pairs decorated initials from Ornamented No. 13 and a hairline Tuscan with swelling at the mid-height spurs that is known as Ornamented No. 35.

In further roles: a condensed gothic (cf. Two-Line Pica Gothic Extra Cond, No. 44) with open and shaded floral initials (for “Notions, Queensware”), a Fat Face and a wide sans for the address, several romans, and Tuscan caps with split shade (Brevier Ornamented, No. 23?).

Henry Swartz,
Dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, Notions, Queensware, &c., &c., &c.
No. 229 South George Street, York, Pa.
Experience in the business and strict attention enables him to render general satisfaction.
Country produce bought and sold.
Gazette, Pr.

Source: grolierclub.omeka.net Image: Henry Voigt / Grolier Club. License: All Rights Reserved.

The Grolier Club, America’s oldest and largest society for bibliophiles and enthusiasts in the graphic arts, just launched the online exhibition A Century Of Dining Out: The American Story In Menus, 1841–1941.

Source: grolierclub.omeka.net Image: Henry Voigt / Grolier Club. License: All Rights Reserved.

Among the objects, scanned at very good resolution, is this 1853 à la carte menu from Judson’s Restaurant on Broadway in New York. It includes some ornamental type that had just gained popularity in the mid 19th century, such as the outlined Modern/Scotch (No. 61 BROADWAY) and a typeface generically titled as Shaded No. 5 or Gothic Shaded with its backslant and unusual perspective effect.

Source: grolierclub.omeka.net Image: Henry Voigt / Grolier Club. License: All Rights Reserved.

Sans serif type was also recently coming into common use at this time. The gothic “JUDSON’S” on the cover is similar to Gothic No. 2, but is not quite a match. The main dish here, used for “RESTAURANT”, is another unnamed design sometimes shown as Ornamented No. 13. Its age is uncertain, but this use helps us date it before 1853.

The exhibition, curated by Henry Voigt (author of The American Menu blog) from his own collection, includes commentary on the peculiarities of each period’s cuisine and the way it is presented in menus. Henry Voigt:

New Yorkers called the 6¼- and 12½-cent price increments a sixpence and a shilling, respectively, employing the British abbreviations “6d” and “s” for these units of American currency. For example, the price of the breaded veal cutlets on this six-page menu is shown to be 2s, or 25 cents. The most expensive dish shown here is the breast of partridge with truffles that costs 10s, which was about the amount a laborer earned for a day’s work.