“Please Do Not Lift Apron” Moveable Trade Card for Combination Fence Works. ca. 1890.

A delightful moveable trade card for Combination Fence Works of Council Bluffs, Iowa. A printed amateur drawing of a figure wearing an apron smiles with fence-like teeth. The “apron” is a piece of pink paper applied with glue that reads “Please Do Not Lift Apron.” Upon lifting the apron, some marketing copy for Combination Fence Works is revealed. The verso of the card (about 3.25 x 4.75″) shares more detail about the company, including an image of a corn crib.