[SHAKERS]. 6 seed packets from the Shakers' Garden, Enfield, New Hampshire, comprising beets, cucumbers (early cluster, common, and early), lettuce, and turnip.  

6 seed packets (66 x 58 mm - 88 x 87 mm). Letterpress labels, planting instructions, and codes printed within letterpress borders. Envelopes folded and pasted. (Some minor staining to a few envelopes, a few tiny holes with occasional repairs.)

The life and finances of the Enfield Shaker community revolved around agriculture, and their most important industry was their garden seed business. "Shaker-grown garden seeds, one of their best and most successful endeavors, were sold throughout the US. To facilitate sales, the Shakers packaged seeds in small packets or sold them by weight and measure for wholesale use. The packets, however, which were an Enfield Shaker innovation, defined the garden-seed business and are still used today" (connecticuthistory.org).   Envelope labeling includes planting instructions, and occasionally includes information for cooking preparation methods (for example, describing the early cluster cucumber as "one of the very best varieties for family use, both for pickles and the table").  

[With:] A group of unused seed envelopes and letterpress labels, comprising: early cucumber and bassino red beet printed envelopes from West Pittsfield, MA; bassino beet and yellow onion printed envelopes from New Lebanon, NY; and horehound, motherwort, and wolf bane letterpress labels from New Lebanon, NY.  


Selections from Antiquariat Botanicum, Dr. Eugene Vigil