Offered here is a remarkable and fully authenticated collection of eleven (11) original Victorian-era advertising trade cards issued by P. & A. C. Wiley of Rockport, Maine, dealers in fine boots, shoes, and rubbers.
This complete group dates to the circa 1880s and has been professionally graded and encapsulated by SGC, with grades ranging from Good to EX/MT. According to the SGC population report, these examples represent the only graded specimens of this series.
đź“ś Historical Background
Research through the Maine State Library and Library of Congress confirms that P. & A. C. Wiley began operations in Rockport in 1884 and remained active through at least the mid-1890s. Period business directories and illustrated business histories document their prominence as both retailers and manufacturers of goods.
An 1892 published profile describes Wiley’s operation as employing up to 100 workers in peak seasons and offering a wide range of merchandise, highlighting the firm’s regional importance.
Additional Historical Research
Archival newspaper research further documents the historical presence of P. & A. C. Wiley in coastal Maine during the late nineteenth century. An 1890 Knox County Fair article specifically references “P. & A. C. Wiley, Rockport” as exhibitors of “worsted work,” while an 1895 issue of The Republican Journal identifies A. C. Wiley as a director of the Belfast Machine & Foundry Company, suggesting broader regional commercial prominence beyond ordinary retail trade. Period newspaper references are included in the listing photographs for historical context.
🖼️ Collection Highlights
Original circa-1880s advertising trade cards
Humorous and satirical illustrated scenes
All professionally graded and slabbed by SGC
Scarce Maine business advertising ephemera
Matched group of 11 cards
These cards combine 19th-century Americana, regional history, and early advertising art.
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