It’s ephemera month at Speaking of Idaho. I’m writing a few little blurbs about some interesting ephemera I’ve collected over the years. Often there’s little or no historic value to the pieces, but each one tells a story.
This little card, and others like it, came with one-pound sacks of Arbuckle’s Ariosa Coffee. The company is still in existence. Here’s a history blurb from their website:
“Arbuckles’ Coffee began in the post Civil War Era of the 19th Century. Two brothers, John and Charles Arbuckle, initiated a new concept in the coffee industry; selling roasted coffee in one pound packages. Until that time, coffee was sold green and had to be roasted in a skillet over a fire or in a wood stove. You can imagine the inconsistency of the coffee. One burned bean ruined the whole batch. The Arbuckle Brothers were able to roast a coffee that was of consistently fine quality and the first to be packaged in one pound bags.
“Arbuckles’ Ariosa Blend became so popular in the Old West that most cowboys didn't even know that there was any other. Arbuckles’ Coffee was prominent in such infamous cow towns as Dodge City and Tombstone. To many of the older cowboys, Arbuckles’ Ariosa Blend is still known as the Original Cowboy Coffee.”
The trading cards (collect them all!) featured 50 states and territories. Today, an Idaho card would likely feature potatoes. In the 1860s, the cards featured that amazing Idaho product, salt. If you didn’t know about Idaho’s salt production, check this blog post I wrote about it.
This little card, and others like it, came with one-pound sacks of Arbuckle’s Ariosa Coffee. The company is still in existence. Here’s a history blurb from their website:
“Arbuckles’ Coffee began in the post Civil War Era of the 19th Century. Two brothers, John and Charles Arbuckle, initiated a new concept in the coffee industry; selling roasted coffee in one pound packages. Until that time, coffee was sold green and had to be roasted in a skillet over a fire or in a wood stove. You can imagine the inconsistency of the coffee. One burned bean ruined the whole batch. The Arbuckle Brothers were able to roast a coffee that was of consistently fine quality and the first to be packaged in one pound bags.
“Arbuckles’ Ariosa Blend became so popular in the Old West that most cowboys didn't even know that there was any other. Arbuckles’ Coffee was prominent in such infamous cow towns as Dodge City and Tombstone. To many of the older cowboys, Arbuckles’ Ariosa Blend is still known as the Original Cowboy Coffee.”
The trading cards (collect them all!) featured 50 states and territories. Today, an Idaho card would likely feature potatoes. In the 1860s, the cards featured that amazing Idaho product, salt. If you didn’t know about Idaho’s salt production, check this blog post I wrote about it.
The front of the coffee card.
Coffee card back.
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