this trade card may have been advertising girls overalls produced by bittner, hunsicker & company, who manufactured "bee hive" overalls, but i can't say for sure. it seems logical, as they manufactured a number of products for working class people, but i have yet to find a reference to "bee overalls for girls" anywhere but on this trade card, and unfortunately there is no information printed on the back.
my response to old advertisements for children's overalls is not what you would think. sure, they are sweet images, but if placed in the context of the time in which they were produced they also have a sad quality. the late 1800's to early 1900's was a terrible time to be born to working class parents. such children were often compelled to work hard labor of some sort. today many of us are so far removed from the realities of child labor that we have an extremely difficult time imagining what this must have meant and means for families.
when presented with a card such as this most people respond with a gush, and think 'that girl looks so cute in her overalls!' which in fact she does. but it is important to remember the unfortunate experience millions of children endured at the turn of the 19th century, and that the same experience still exists today for just as many in developing countries.
...just a little something to remember the next time we head out to a "specialty apparel retailer" to buy a new jumper for the baby.
