The Olden Time Series, Vol. 4: Quaint and Curious Advertisements / Gleanings Chiefly from Old Newspapers of Boston and Salem, Massachusetts

by Henry M. Brooks

In the "Boston Columbian Centinel" Josiah Flagg, jun., advertises for "live teeth."

JOSIAH FLAGG, jun.
SURGEON DENTIST:
at the Stone-House, Beacon-Street,
BOSTON—

Continues his practiſe with uſeful improvements. Aſſiſtance to the poor gratis.

☞ CASH given for live Teeth, and Gold Cobbs, or Duſt.

May 26, 1792.

---

It is curious to see how in "old times" things "got mixed up." The incongruity of putting together whalebone, Bibles, and chip hats is only exceeded by a later advertisement we have seen of Scott's Bible sold at a lottery-office. This is from the "Salem Mercury" of 1788:—

NEXT FRIDAY,
AT W.P. Bartlett's Office,
Will be Sold at
Publick Auction,
A variety of Shop Goods and
other articles:
Among which are,

A Few pieces beſt India BANDANNOES——BROADCLOTHS in patterns—twill'd & plain CORDUROY—few doz. purple & white SHAWLS—Hair Ribbons—coloured Threads—N^o 4 Pins—Iriſh LINENS—yellow SERGE—black LASTINGS—WHALEBONE—large and ſmall BIBLES—Chip Hats—Watch Chains—Bottled Muſtard—Playing Cards—Green Chairs—few pounds of NUTMEGS—Men's Worſted STOCKINGS, &c.—Sale to begin at 11 o'clock, a.m.