Whale Washing
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=kernel&p=image&src=%7B%22file%22%3A%22wp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F11%2FEphemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-1.jpg%22%2C%22thumbnail%22%3A%22auto%2C%2C%22%7D&hash=c4adfba1)
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-2.jpg)
Today as I write, this large, reverse-painted-on-glass nineteenth-century advertising sign is to be auctioned by Morphy’s. The image of a whale being cleaned by Soapine is one of those truly classic vintage images, and variations on the theme are popular collectibles. (For that matter, any item of 19th-century ephemera featuring a whale is a sought-after collectible.)
Here is a similar large reverse painting Soapine advertising piece, sold by the Julia firm a while back . . .
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-3.jpg)
There also exist several paper wooden box labels, some of which may also have functioned as store signs . . .
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-4.png)
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-5.jpg)
Arguably the most popular Soapine trade card is found in two versions, which are of two slightly different sizes . . .
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-6.jpg)
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-7.jpg)
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-8.jpg)
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-9.jpg)
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-10.jpg)
The Soapine product box itself bore the whale-washing image, and the package itself appears on various of the trade cards . . .
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-11.jpg)
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-12.jpg)
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-13.jpg)
The box’s front label design was also adapted into a trade card (actually, several trade cards, as there are a number of slight variations of the same basic design . . .
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-14.jpg)
The most scarce Soapine trade card is this large one ( 4 5/8? x 6? ) . . .
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-15.jpg)
A portion of a paper product wrapper:
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-16.jpg)
An 1889 Kendall Manufacturing Company Soapine billhead . . .
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-17.jpg)
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-18.jpg)
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/1891SoapineLH200.jpg)
The front cover of a scarce pamphlet about Soapine’s premiums offers . . .
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-19.jpg)
A pioneer advertising postcard with a chromo image on the reverse side . . .
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-20.jpg)
There is also a slew of small Soapine trade cards, many of which feature a “gold” ink background. (Those interested should obtain a copy of Soapine Did It! / An Illustrated History of Kendall’s 19th Century Soap Advertising Campaign, by Dave Cheadle and Bill Lee, 2000)
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/SoapineEnvelopeBack200.jpg)
Interestingly, in 2006 the country of Romania issued postal stationery featuring two of these American Soapine advertising trade card images . . .
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-21.jpg)
![](https://www.ephemerasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ephemera-Classic-Whale-Washing-Soapine-22.jpg)