A very scarce one; I can't find another of these out there anywhere, but I did find some printed matter from Burges, Fobes & Co, a Portland, Maine-based manufacturer and wholesaler of paints. The company was founded in 1858 by S.W. Wilson and Henry H. Burgess, known as Wilson and Burgess, who began by grinding lead in a barn in the area of Munjoy, Beckett, and Wilson streets in Portland. The company would later build a large factory building on the site, and also had a large office and salesroom at 106-112 Commercial Street. Around 1863, Charles S. Fobes joined the business, which changed its name again to Burgess, Fobes & Company.
I really love old paint sample cards of all sorts, and old advertising paperweights with great graphics--and of course Portland, Maine, too--so love at first sight with this one. 1890s-1900 or so, I believe.
3 3/4 x 2 1/2 x 7/8 and in good condition. From certain angles one can see some paint loss and a stain at lower right corner, which I tried to document, but from top view it all holds together and looks bright and crisp, and glass is in excellent shape. With original plum colored vinyl adhered to underside, stamped Little & Preuss, Houston St NYC.
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