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**Rare Original 1892 "The White Squadron" Advertising Poster Print**
**Co-Branded for White Sewing Machines & White Bicycles**
**Featuring Rare Local Stamp: F. J. Evans & Co. — Corsicana, Texas**
Up for sale is an incredibly rare piece of late 19th-century American industrial and military history. This original 1892 large-format chromolithograph poster print advertisement was issued by the White Sewing Machine Company of Cleveland, Ohio.
To capitalize on the patriotic public pride surrounding "The White Squadron" (the historic steel-hulled naval fleet that preceded the Great White Fleet), White co-promoted its top manufacturing lines: White Sewing Machines and White Bicycles ("For All Flyers"). The bottom portion features a detailed technical breakdown of the warship's advanced weaponry, including breech-loading rifles, rapid-firing guns, and hotchkiss revolving cannons.
**Hometown Texas Connection:**
This specific piece features a beautiful, crisp local merchant ink stamp in the margin from **"F. J. Evans & Co. / Dealers in Furniture, Carpets, Etc. / Corsicana, Texas."** These promotional sheets were sent by major manufacturers to local showrooms, where the hometown dealer would stamp their storefront info before handing them out to local foot traffic.
**Item Specifics & Details:**
* **Year:** Verified 1892 Copyright (Printed on bottom margin)
* **Manufacturer:** White Sewing Machine Co. / White Bicycles
* **Subject:** The White Squadron / Early Protected Steel Naval Cruisers
* **Local Provenance:** Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas Retail Imprint
* **Format:** Original Period Chromolithograph / Litho Advertisement Print
* **Presentation:** Includes a protective clear plastic display sleeve with rigid backing board.
**Condition Report (Please Read Before offerding):**
This 130+ year old antique print is in **Fair to Good Antique Condition**. The graphic ink colors remain remarkably vibrant and deep with excellent contrast.
*CRITICAL FLAW NOTE:* There is a prominent puncture/tear flaw located on the upper tan paper border margin (visible in close-up photos) which exposes the cardboard backing material underneath. The tear resides completely in the blank upper border margin and does NOT bleed down into the primary colored ship illustration or text. There is minor edge wear/aging typical of paper ephemera of this era. Sold strictly "as-is."
Perfect for collectors of early American bicycle history, sewing machine advertising, Spanish-American War era naval militaria, or historical Texas ephemera!
*Fast, secure shipping. The print will be shipped completely flat between extra layers of heavy-duty double-walled cardboard to ensure zero bending or shifting during transit.*
