Description
Before L. Frank Baum became famous for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, he worked for the family “Castorine” company. Castorine was a sort of miracle axle grease for buggies. See the full story in Bill Thompson’s detailed article in the Spring 2006 Baum Bugle.
Offered here is a very early color Castorine advertising trade card or clipping. It shows Maud S, a record setting trotter pulling a sulky, presumably one treated with Castorine for speed. The driver looks a little like L Frank Baum himself! The card is blank on the back but probably dates from shortly after July 1885, when Maud S set the time record shown on the card. (Incidentally, Maud was Frank’s wife’s name.) The trotter is one of the more unusual of these advertising cards I have seen.
Card is on lightweight card stock and measures about 2 3/4″ x 4 1/4″. Well over 100 years old and in very good condition with a few light crease and light foxing on back.
