Advertising Poster for Denver’s Version of Mardi Gras

"The Denver Republican. Festival of Mountain and Plain",

This attractive poster was issued in the October 5-7, 1897 Special Edition of The Denver Republican. The poster advertises Denver’s attempt to rival the success of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras with a "Festival of Mountain and Plain" that celebrated pioneer days, held intermittently from 1894-1912. The left third of the poster shows an art nouveau metal stand with a snake entwined and a glowing torch atop. The remainder of the poster features the goddess Ceres/Demeter in a flowing gown holding a stalk of grain and a sickle. Behind her are maidens blowing horns in front of an ancient temple. The accompanying page contains numerous ads of local interest including one in color for The Denver Dry Goods Co., “the largest merchandising establishment in the West,” a railroad ad with a map, and a music store ad with two handsome art nouveau illustrations of revelers in costume holding the head and tail of a serpent symbolizing the final day’s parade of the secret society, the “slaves of the silver serpent.” Printed on heavier stock newsprint. There are no past sales records or institutional examples located on OCLC.

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Condition: A

In remarkable condition given its ephemeral nature with uniform light toning. There are a number of tiny edge chips confined to the blank margins.