“Wanted Immediately,” Public Ledger, October 4, 1845.

 

“To Colorists,” Public Ledger, September 27, 1852.
 Courtesy of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

 

Women and young girls worked as hand-colorists within the lithographic trade from its inception. The colorist followed a key and could perform piecework discreetly at her home or at the lithographic establishment. At midcentury, young women earned roughly 3 to 10 cents per print or about $2.50 to $5 a week at the better establishments, about a third of what male printers received.

 

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