Evening Basket Sociable Invitation, Lititz, Pa., September 15, 1894

Invitation for a Basket Sociable at the Snyder’s residence, “one mile northwest of Lititz”, Pennsylvania, 1894. The typography features the typical eclectic mix of period typefaces, including two designs by William W. Jackson for MacKellar, Smiths & Jordan; Cruikshank (1886) and Unique Celtic (1889). “Basket” is set in Bruce’s Ornamented No. 1049 (1875).

The upright cursive with horizontal contrast and the large descending initials is Pencraft, designed by Herman Ihlenburg for MS&J in 1885. “Complimentary” might be Antique No. 310, a precursor to Bookman (see also Old Style Antique No. 7). The italic is Old Style No. 2 or similar. While the wide sans serif used for “Committee” is unidentified, the names appear to be set in Ronaldson (1884).

Basket
Yourself and Friend are cordially invited to attend
An Evening Sociable,
Complimentary To
Miss Mary B. Snyder,
On Saturday Evening, September [8]15th, 1894.
Meet at the residence of her father, Mr. Henry G. Snyder, one mile northwest of Lititz, at 7 o’clock sharp.
Committee:
Christ E. Snyder, Harry F. Hess.
Should the weather be unfavorable the Sociable will be held the following Saturday evening.

For a similar nineteenth-century invitation, see Evening Basket Sociable Invitation, Maytown, Pa., October 12, 1895.