The "Victorian" Wall-Papers

This 1887 trade catalog from the wallpaper firm of Jeffrey & Co. (1836-1930) represents the work of a company with a long and interesting history, exhibiting at the 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition in London. They started printing William Morris wallpapers in 1862 and produced wallcoverings designed by well-known artists and designers. In 1892, they advertised themselves as Manufacturers and Exporters of All Classes of Non-Arsenical Wallpapers, which was a cause for health and safety concern in wallpaper production in the 19th century. You can read more about this trade catalog in the Cooper Hewitt Museum’s Object of the Day blog.