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Original circa 1903 illustrated advertising booklet titled Many Strange Fish in the Sea, issued as Ma-Le-Na Booklet No. 116 by the Malena Company of Warriorsmark, Pennsylvania.
ITEM DETAILS
Title: Many Strange Fish in the Sea
Series: Ma-Le-Na Booklet
Booklet number: No. 116
Publisher: Malena Company
Location: Warriorsmark, Pennsylvania
Date: Circa 1903
Format: Illustrated patent-medicine advertising booklet
Binding: Original stapled paper wrappers
Size: Approximately 5 x 6 1/4 inches
Pagination: 12 unnumbered pages
Language: English
Signed: No
ISBN or UPC: None
Dust jacket: None issued
This unusual early advertising booklet combines short natural-history descriptions of exotic fish with advertisements for Ma-Le-Na Stomach-Liver Pills.
The original color-printed covers and interior illustrations feature numerous unusual sea creatures. Fish shown include the coffer fish, gurnard, sea horse, common skate, flying fish, angler fish, mud skipper, zebra fish, spotted globe fish, Japanese unicorn fish, sucking fish, African bearded fish and hammerhead shark.
The booklet contains black-and-white text illustrations and attractive full-page color illustrations.
Period advertisements promote Ma-Le-Na Stomach-Liver Pills as a vegetable tonic, laxative and blood purifier for constipation, biliousness, sick headache, complexion and other ailments. One advertisement states that the pills were available from the Malena Company for 25 cents in silver or postage stamps.
This is an appealing example of antique American patent-medicine or quack-medicine advertising, with additional interest for collectors of fish illustrations, natural history, Pennsylvania history, apothecary memorabilia and early advertising ephemera.
CONDITION
Good antique condition overall.
The booklet shows age toning, fading, surface rubbing, handling wear, scattered soiling, spine wear, softened corners, edge wear, small creases, wrinkles and minor nicks or short edge tears. The covers have noticeable color fading and rubbing but remain attractive and fully legible.
The interior pages are age-toned with light handling wear. The color fish illustrations remain appealing. The staples appear present and the booklet remains together. No writing, library markings, modern tape repairs or detached pages are visible in the photographs.
The booklet appears complete based on the visible pages, but every leaf has not been individually counted.
Please examine all photographs carefully because they are an important part of the condition description.
A scarce and visually unusual early-1900s advertising booklet featuring colorful marine-life artwork and fascinating period patent-medicine claims.
Will be protected in a sleeve with rigid backing and packaged carefully for shipment.
