{"product_id":"1884-the-bottle-temperance-print-george-cruikshank","title":"The Bottle — Plate 2 | 1884 Temperance Advertising Print After George Cruikshank | Framed","description":"\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOffered here is an original \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e1884 American temperance advertising print\u003c\/span\u003e, Plate 2 from an eight-part series adapted from George Cruikshank’s celebrated 1847 temperance narrative, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Bottle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe scene depicts the early deterioration of a once-respectable household following the introduction of alcohol into the home. Beneath the illustration appears the cautionary caption:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“The First Result of the Introduction of the Bottle. Laziness and craving for more liquor, to relieve the feeling of despondency produced by indulgence in drunkenness.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe lower right of the image is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Copyrighted by M. Marques, 1884.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eMore than 140 years after its publication, the piece survives as a striking artifact of the nineteenth-century temperance movement and the long history of American efforts to address the consequences of alcoholism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eGeorge Cruikshank and \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Bottle\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBritish artist and caricaturist \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eGeorge Cruikshank\u003c\/span\u003e originally published \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Bottle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e in London in 1847.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eRather than presenting a single temperance image, Cruikshank constructed a narrative through \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eeight sequential scenes\u003c\/span\u003e, following the progressive destruction of a family after alcohol enters the household. The series moves from an initially comfortable domestic setting through dependence, financial hardship, neglect, violence, and ultimately tragedy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIts dramatic visual storytelling made \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Bottle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e one of the best-known pictorial works associated with the nineteenth-century temperance movement, and the series was subsequently reproduced and adapted in numerous forms in both Britain and America.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe present piece is \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ePlate 2\u003c\/span\u003e, representing an early stage in that progression. The father sits withdrawn beside the stove while the surrounding family scene begins to reflect the consequences of drinking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eImportantly, this is \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003enot an 1847 Cruikshank printing\u003c\/span\u003e. It is a later American adaptation of Cruikshank’s composition, copyrighted by M. Marques in 1884.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAn example of this M. Marques version of Plate 2 is preserved in the \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eHarry T. Peters “America on Stone” Lithography Collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History\u003c\/span\u003e, providing an important institutional reference for the image.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Great American Tea Company Connection\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe reverse makes this particular example especially interesting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eRather than having been distributed simply as a decorative temperance print, this piece was used as an \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eadvertising premium by The Great American Tea Company\u003c\/span\u003e, a nineteenth-century seller of teas, coffees, and related household products.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAcross the reverse appears the prominent appeal:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“SET YOUR FAMILY A GOOD EXAMPLE”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003efollowed by advertising for the company’s:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Teas, Coffees \u0026amp; Baking Powder.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eMost importantly, the advertisement identifies the print as part of a larger set:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“This Set of (8) cards contains the Greatest TEMPERANCE LECTURE that has ever been delivered. Every one should procure it.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAnother notice explains that a complete set of the temperance cards would be given to purchasers meeting specified order amounts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis advertising provides valuable context for how the piece was originally distributed. The Great American Tea Company was using the eight-part temperance narrative as a promotional premium, connecting its tea and coffee products with the nineteenth-century movement encouraging alternatives to intoxicating drink.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe result is an unusual crossover between \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003etemperance history, Victorian advertising, consumer culture, and the artwork of George Cruikshank\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom Temperance to Recovery\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis piece also provides an interesting window into the history that preceded the modern recovery movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eDuring the nineteenth century, alcoholism was addressed through temperance societies, religious organizations, reform movements, lectures, literature, and powerful visual narratives such as \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Bottle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e. Images showing the consequences of drinking were widely used to communicate the perceived social and familial costs of alcohol.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis example appeared approximately \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ehalf a century before the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/span\u003e, representing a very different era in the evolving history of how alcoholism was understood and addressed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFor collectors of Alcoholics Anonymous and recovery history, artifacts such as this help document the much longer historical landscape from which twentieth-century approaches to alcoholism and recovery eventually emerged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFramed for Display\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe original 1884 piece has been placed in a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003esimple black frame\u003c\/span\u003e, allowing the dramatic Plate 2 illustration to be displayed while preserving the historically significant advertising on the reverse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe frame is included with the sale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBecause the reverse contains important Great American Tea Company advertising and identifies the piece as belonging to the eight-card temperance series, photographs of both sides are included with the listing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eItem Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe First Result of the Introduction of the Bottle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeries:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Bottle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlate:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Plate 2 of 8\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOriginal Composition:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e George Cruikshank\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIssue:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Later American adaptation\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCopyright:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e M. Marques\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eYear:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e 1884\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDistributor\/Advertiser:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e The Great American Tea Company\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Illustrated temperance advertising card \/ print\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSubject:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Temperance, alcoholism, social reform, advertising history\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePresentation:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Framed in black frame\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eInstitutional Reference:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e A corresponding M. Marques example is held by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe original piece remains visually striking but shows \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003esignificant age and wear consistent with its approximately 140-year history\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThere is overall toning and discoloration, scattered staining and surface wear, along with edge tears, chips, and areas of paper loss. The upper-right corner has been clipped, and there are more noticeable losses along portions of the lower and right edges. The reverse shows old tape repairs and tape remnants from previous handling or mounting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eDespite these condition issues, the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ecentral illustration remains remarkably complete and presents well\u003c\/span\u003e, with the principal figures and domestic scene clearly visible. The Plate 2 designation, M. Marques copyright information, and primary caption also remain present and legible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe advertising on the reverse is substantially preserved and remains readable, including the important statement identifying this as part of the original \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eeight-card temperance series distributed by The Great American Tea Company\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe piece has now been placed in a black frame for display and is offered exactly as shown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for the exact condition of this historic piece.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50053078221042,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/16075ABC-A8DA-4D6B-94F4-CE508EF8637F.jpg?v=1789019099","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/1884-the-bottle-temperance-print-george-cruikshank","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}