Object of the Day: An Antique "Dining Room" Trade Card

Here’s another trade card from my growing collection of ephemera.  This one is unusual in that it’s much smaller than most and it also advertises a specific restaurant as opposed to a brand.  It’s awfully cute.  Don’t you think?

On the obverse we see the typical Victorian image of a child.  This little lad is dressed in a red jacket over an apron.  Clearly, he’s meant to represent a little baker delivering a basket of bread.  He looks a wee bit concerned about it for some reason.

The card advertises:

COSMOPOLITAN 

DINING ROOMS,

For Ladies’ & Gent’s (weird apostrophe use and all)

700 Washington & 8 Kneeland St.

BOSTON      Over.

The reverse is slightly damaged.  However, it does show the establishment’s menu which is pretty interesting.  I’m going to try to reproduce it for you as best I can.  Lines indicate where I can’t make out the text.  I wonder what “Min…  Fish” is.

BILL OF FARE

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Boston’s Best Cup of Coffee with

Cream,                                                  5 (cents)

_____ and a Large Bowl of Milk    10

Bakes Beans with Bread and Butter,

Tea or Coffee                                     10

Hash and Meat    “   “    “    “            10

Fish Balls              “   “     “    “           10

Min__  Fish         “   “     “    “           10

Stews and Chowders                        15

Full Dinner                                         15

_______ak                                       15

Roast Beef                                          15

Oyster Stew                                       20

Pastries, all kinds.  Home Made

Pies 5 Cents

______gs, 5c.  A plate of Doughnuts

With Cheese, 5 Cents

K. BROOKS, Prop’r.

Tickets Sold at a Discount