GLASS = CUP= PLATES By CHARLES BURf^S i Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 \ https://archive.org/details/glasscupplatesguOOburn I Glass Cup Plates A Guide to Collectors hy Charles Burns First Edition, Illustrated Copyright 1921 Published by Burns Antique Shop 912 Walnut Street :: Philadelphia, Pa. HE aim and intention of this work is to furnish those who are interested in the subject with a guide to collecting glass cup plates. The collecting of cup plates always was an alluring subject, and is now difficult, as they are no longer used for the purpose for which they were made. The practice which we condemn as bad etiquette today was in good repute among our ancestors, as these cup plates abundantly testify. Great Grandma could not bear to have the linen stained or the mahogany marred, so when tea was poured into the saucer to cool the cup was neatly placed in the little plate provided for it. The collectors of Old Blue China were delighted when they discovered any early American historical subjects on china cup plates, which were mostly made in Staffordshire, England, for the American market, and some of them were worth their weight in gold. I have been collecting antique china and glass for many years and had a nice lot of his- torical cup plates in dark blue china. One day, while on a quest for antiques in an old house in South Philadelphia, in looking through a lot of glassware in an old corner cupboard, I found a stack of small glass dishes. The old gentleman to whom they belonged thought they were butter plates; all he could remember about them was that they belonged to his wife's mother. As they had stood on that shelf for many years they were almost black with the accumulation of dust; so took them to the kitchen sink and found that they had historical designs impressed in them and proved to be glass cup plates; so purchased them and laid them aside. Later while rummaging in an old garret I found some more, of a different design; so decided to make a collection of them. For a long time I had no competition. All the dealers saved them for me at my own appraisement, but at present there are many collectors of them. I have been asked so many times how many varieties there are, so decided to publish this book. There are over forty different historical designs known, and still others being found; many are in colors; some in amber, blue, green and opalescent, and a large variety of conventionals, showing wonderful skill on the part of the engravers. Among them are some very interesting specimens, such as the anchor, harp, lyre, butterfly, valentine and sev- eral different impressions of the thirteen hearts, representing the thirteen States. The late Dr. Edwin Atlee Barber in writing on American glass says that glass cup plates were probably made in Eng- land, but we have found since that these cup plates were made by the Boston and Sandwich Company, Sandwich, Massachu- setts. The manufacture of glass by means of metal molds was practiced to some extent in England ^nd AmBrica as early as 1834. The idea of pressing the molten glass into the required shape by means of a metal core or plunger was suggested by a carpenter in Sandwich, Massachusetts, and taken up by the New England Glass Company with successful results. They sent a specimen of this pressed glass to Paris for the Exposi- tion and received first prize on it. The clear and brilliant impressions are the earliest and best specimens. When the glass is very dull and has a greasy appearance they come from a very old or a remade mould. In illustrating these plates have made impressions in plaster of paris to bring out the details, as it is almost im- possible to photograph glass and get the details. Most of these plates have a scallop on the outer edge, which can be seen in figure No. 1. The size of these plates vary from three to three and three-quarter inches. All numbers that have an A following same are of the same design as preceding one with same number, but of a slight variation. The author desires to record his thanks to Mr. A. H. Scott, Rose Valley, Pennsylvania, and Mr. Overholtzer, Norris- town, Pennsylvania, for the courtesy of letting him take impressions of some of the specimens he disposed of to them. Figure 1 CLERMONT, FULTON STEAMBOAT As early as 1793 Fulton began his attention to the subject of steam navigation. In 1803 he launched a steamboat on the Seine, Paris, which immediately sank, owing to faulty construction of the frame. A new boat was built with the old machinery, which made a successful trip on the Seine August 9th, 1803, but attained no great speed. Returning to the United States, Fulton resumed his experiments there and finally the Clermont steamed up the Hudson from New York to Albany, August 11th, 1807, making the voyage of one hundred and fifty miles in thirty- two hours. This is a rare plate, SV2 inches. Figure 2 MAJOR SAMUEL RINGOLD The Mexican war hero, who was killed at the battle of Palo Alto. Very rare plate, SV2 inches. Figure 3 BEFORE AND AFTER MARRIAGE A satire on marriage. Rare plate, ^V2 inches. Figure 4 FRIGATE CONSTITUTION or OLD IRON SIDES The old reliable carried forty-four guns, commanded by Captain Isaac Hull in the War of 1812. Rare plate, 3% inches. Figure 5 GEORGE WASHINGTON The father of our country. Born in Westmoreland Co., Virginia, February 22d, 1732; died December 14th, 1799. Rarest plate known, 3% inches. Figure 6 FORT PITT EAGLE To commemorate the fall of Fort Duquesne, 1758. On the advance of Washington and his Virginians, the garrison set fire to the fort and fled. The flames were extinguished and the name of the fortress was changed to Fort Pitt. Very rare, 3% inches. Figure 7 SMALL EAGLE Scarce, SV2 inches. Figure 8 LARGE EAGLE Scarce, 3 inches. Figure 9 LARGE EAGLE, 1831 Commemorating the boundary line between United States and Canada. Not rare, SV^ inches. Figure 10 SMALL EAGLE Common, SV2 inches. Figure 11 LARGE EAGLE, SMALL PLATE Scarce, 3 inches Figure 12 LARGE EAGLE SV2 inches. Figure 13 and 13-A LARGE EAGLE There are two varieties of this one. The bead on the outer border is a trifle closer on one than on the other. Figure 14 LARGE EAGLE Rare, 3^/4 inches. Figure 15 BEE HIVE This represents industry and used during the cam- paign of 1840. Scarce, 3 inches. Figure 16 LOG CABIN Log Cabin was a paper published under the auspices of the Whig State Committee of New York. Horace Greeley was Editor of same. The popular election passed off in November, 1840, amid the vocal din of Whig Log Cabin songs, interlined with something about hard cider and Harrison's latch string always hanging outside of the door. 3^ inches. Figure 17 HOUND Rare, 3^ inches. Figure 18 BEE HIVE Rare, 3 inches. Figure 19 HENRY CLAY Facing right. Very rare, SV2 inches. Figure 20 HENRY CLAY Facing left. Plentiful, SV2 inches. Figure 21 MAJOR RINGOLD Rare, 3^ inches. The only difference in this Ringold is that the print is smaller. Figure 22 HENRY CLAY No printing. Rare, SV2 inches. Figure 23 HENRY CLAY Five Stars. Henry Clay was born in Virginia, near Richmond, April 12, 1777. He was elected to the National Senate with the re- markable record of thirteen years as Speaker of the House. He died on June 29th, 1852, in Washington, D. C. SV2 inches. Figure 24 W. H. HARRISON Born at Berkely, Virginia, February 9th, 1773. Died at Washington, D. C, April 4th, 1841. SV2 inches. Figure 24-A There are two varieties. Same as 24. President and date omitted. Figure 25 SHIP CHANCELLOR LIVINGSTON Robert R. Livingston, Chancellor of the State of New York, 1777 to 1801. He was one of the committee of five in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Later on in life he associated with Robert Fulton in the steamboat enterprises. SV2 inches. Figure 26 SHIP CHANCELLOR LIVINGSTON Same as above, but difference in the ropes. SV2 inches. Figure 27 CADMUS The ship which brought Lafayette to this country as a guest in 1824. It was fitted up by a patriotic American merchant, who placed it at the General's disposal. Not rare, SV2 inches. Figure 28 SHIP CHANCELLOR LIVINGSTON Note the difference. There are waves instead of stripple. Rare, SV2 inches. Figure 29 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SHIP Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, January 17, 1706, and died in Philadelphia, April 17, 1790. The originality and force of Franklin's intellect ap- peared in youthful publications, one of which was "Poor Richard's Almanac,'' which became widely known for its wise proverbs. It was entirely fitting that to his wisdom should have been confided mainly the negotiation of the memorial treaty by which the Independence of the United States of America received complete though sullen recognition on the part of England. SV2 inches. Figure 30 BRIDGE, NIAGARA Called ^'Maid of the Mist." 3^ inches. Figure 31 BUNKER HILL MONUMENT It commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill, in which General Warren fell, sixty-eight years after the corner- stone was laid by General Lafayette in 1825 and unveiled by Daniel Webster. Not rare, 3% inches. Figure 32 BUNKER HILL MONUMENT Not rare, SV2 inches. Figure 33 LOG CABIN Rare, 3 inches. Figure 34 BUNKER HILL MONUMENT Rare. Figure 34-A BUNKER HILL MONUMENT No stars. Figure 35 LOG CABIN Figure 35-A LOG CABIN Acorn border. Rare, SV2 inches. Figure 36 FORT MEIGS AND TIPPECANOE This was the campaign slogan of General Harrison's campaign. One of the most desperate battles ever fought with the Indians, in which General Harrison was highly honored by the Territory of Indiana and State of Kentucky at Fort Meigs. Rare, 3% inches. NOT ILLUSTRATED No. 37. Anchor. No. 38. Lyre. No. 39. Harp. No. 40. Valentine. No. 41. Butterfly. No. 42. Thirteen Hearts. No. 43. Thistle. As soon as other historical cup plates are found there will be another supplement issued. You will be able to secure same by writing to the author, CHARLES BURNS, 912 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. f