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Identification

Late 19th-Century 'O.I.C.' Temperance Tracts Promotional Flyer by Tallie Morgan

Photo reference

1 uploaded photo

Overview

The item is explicitly identified by its printed text as a promotional flyer and order form for 'O. I. C. ' Temperance Tracts, published by Tallie Morgan.

Story

This promotional flyer was published by Tallie Morgan in the late 19th century (c. 1880s-1890s), operating out of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and New York. The 'O. I. C. ' Temperance Tracts were part of the broader Prohibition movement, heavily supported by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (W. C. T. U.). Endorsements from figures like Ex-Gov. John P. St. John, the 1884 Prohibition presidential candidate, firmly place this piece in the political activism of the era.

Maker / Origin

Tallie Morgan

Condition & Value

The visible front of the flyer appears legible with expected age-toning and minor wear consistent with late 19th-century paper. The primary condition issue affecting value is the item being affixed to a decorative collage mount.

Full Research

See what it's actually worth.

Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Market Analysis

The market for Temperance and Prohibition ephemera has a dedicated but niche collector base, frequently intersecting with buyers interested in women's suffrage and 19th-century political history. High-end prices are typically reserved for visually striking posters or items associated with major figures like Carrie Nation. Smaller tracts, order forms, and text-heavy promotional flyers move steadily but at lower price points, primarily driven by institutional buyers, archivists, or specialized private collectors.

Value Drivers

▲ Explicit endorsements from prominent Prohibition figures like John P. St. John and W. C. T. U. leaders anchor historical interest.

▲ Clear publisher attribution (Tallie Morgan) and era (1880s-1890s) allow for precise cataloging.

▲ Niche crossover appeal between temperance, political history, and women's suffrage collectors.

Concerns

▼ Affixed to a decorative mount — if permanently glued, ephemera collectors will heavily penalize the value due to alteration and loss of the verso.

▼ Format as a promotional order form rather than a primary display broadside limits the ceiling compared to graphic posters.

▼ Unverified verso — any printing or historical context on the back is currently obscured by the mount.

Best Venue

List on a specialized ephemera platform or eBay with clear keywords: '1880s Temperance', 'W. C. T. U. ', 'John P. St. John', and 'Prohibition Ephemera'. Do not attempt to remove the flyer from the backing board yourself, as this risks tearing the fragile 19th-century paper. Clearly photograph the edges to show buyers how it is mounted, and state in the listing whether it appears fully glued down or just corner-mounted.

Upside Potential

If the flyer is only lightly corner-mounted and can be safely removed to reveal a pristine verso (especially if it contains additional printed tracts or historical information), the value could push toward the $150-$200 range seen in standalone broadsides.

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Also found — market-range context

Related comps outside the valuation band· 5 comps

Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.

  • Heritage Auctions· 2025-10-25
    Temperance: Large 1846 Cotton Broadside
    Cotton broadside rather than printed paper ephemera.
    $625
  • Jasper52
    Baldwin W.C.T.U. (1903) 25x36 US Temperance Banner
    Banner, not printed paper ephemera.
    $275
  • Heritage Auctions· 2008-12-03
    Temperance Banner: Women's Christian Temperance Union Painted Cotton Banner, "Welcome W. C. T. U."
    Painted cotton banner, not printed paper ephemera.
    $155
  • Swann Auction Galleries· 2022-04-07
    (TEMPERANCE.) Thomas Man. Third Circular . . . Perry's Pupil.
    Sale on record but hammer price not published.
    No price
  • Invaluable
    Rare and early American allegorical map on temperance
    Allegorical map, different form of ephemera.
    No price