Picken Papers Advertising Stamp

Picken Papers 

This advertising stamp was found recently in the Picken Papers ( NHS01616) in one of his scrap books

In 1873, Picken glued this advertisement into his scrap book and wrote :

 “Given by Mr Aston, grocer who succeeded T Collier in the shop called ‘The Lower Bar’. Stamp used by the present T Collier’s grandfather probably 150 years old.”   He also noted that “BB” means “Best Broseley”

 The image is an historical depiction of slaves or native American Indians with grass skirts and pipes . They are standing on tobacco barrels.  Beside the barrels and on their lids, there are tobacco rolls.

In the 17^th and early 18^th century,  the leaves were rolled, then spun into rope, which was wound into balls weighing as much as a hundred pounds . These balls were protected in canvas or barrels for the journey to Britain.

Thomas Collier is listed in an 1828 trade directory as a druggist, grocer, ironmonger and nail manufacturer. Quite a mixture of trades!  His business was taken over in 1835 by Jones and Aston and he died in 1850.

On the 1851 census, which has been transcribed by our member Geoff Culshaw and is available for members to use,  we see that Mr Jones and Mr Aston lived next to each other (respectively  1 and 3 Lower Bar). They are both described as ‘ Grocer and ironmonger’, although  Mr  Jones says that he employs 3 grocers and 10 blacksmiths. Mr Aston had no employees, so perhaps Mr Aston was a sleeping partner.

The image above shows Vernon’s ‘Canister’ store; see the canister above the door.  This is two doors away from Jones and Aston ( 1 Lower Bar). The Canister, today, is James Dalloway hairdresser.  Jones and Aston’s became Hogben’s garage in the mid 20th century and is now ‘Home Essentials’.