ANTI CHINESE WORKERS DETERGENT POSTER UNION BAR PUB 609

The2FunAdGuyz offer a new high quality reproduction print of an 1868 Washing Detergent Poster that incorporates racism, hucksterism and jingoism. The poster highlights the intense competition for jobs that followed the end of the civil war and will be of interest to anyone with interest in Union Labor movements. Immigrants of every ethnicity came looking for jobs. Some—particularly the Chinese workers—felt the wrath of public and sometimes even trade union groups. The Magic Washer Detergent, made by George Dee of Dixon, Illinois, took advantage of the Anti-Chinese attitude in America with this advertisement. Uncle Sam is shown kicking Chinese in the rear and out of the country while holding a document. The Chinese race to the shore where a boat is waiting; presumably to take them back to China.

HEADLINE: The Magic Washer Manufactured by Geo. Dee, Dixon, Illinois.

SMALL COPY AT THE VERY TOP: To whom it may concern: This is a liquid washing compound and is fully guaranteed better than anything ever offered to the public. Its constant use will not injure the clothes or turn them yellow. For sale by the gallon, half-gallon and quart. Try a sample and be surprised.

CAPTION: The Chinese must go.” Below that there is the copy lines: “We have no use for them since we got this WONDERFUL WASHER: What a blessing to tired mothers: It costs so little and don’t injure the clothes.” To the left of Uncle Sam is a phrase “Don’t use this if you want to be dirty.” This piece will provoke controversy and conversation, but every collector of American advertising should have it as an example of a dark side that early advertising embraced.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Posters and advertisements like these grew common in the late 1800’s and were openly posted. The anti-Chinese campaigns were especially popular in California where Chinese laborers had been brought in by the thousands and helped to build the railways, work gold mines and other industrial efforts. However, these hard-working immigrants angered many people, including respected members of the nascent labor movement, who lobbied hard to have them forced to leave the country. The lobby was successful and resulted in the passage of The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which prohibited Chinese immigration until its repeal in 1943 when the Chinese were our allies in World War II. It is viewed as one of the very dark sides of this period of history.

PAPER QUALITY: This new print is on a highest quality, acid-free, 100-pound glossy premium text paper that allows for maximum color brilliance and fidelity for older images. For an expanded explanation of our Paper Quality, go to our FAQ by Clicking Here.

Image Size: 10.5 inches wide by 15 inches high. For an expanded explanation of Image Size, go to our FAQ by Clicking Here.

Paper Size: 11 inches wide by 17 inches high. This allows for a small border around the image for matting and framing. For an expanded explanation of Paper Size, go to our FAQ by Clicking Here.

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