PRIMARY DOCUMENT

“Extraordinary Turtle at Downing’s.” (July 26, 1838)

CONTEXT

Thomas Downing published this advertisement in the New York Herald on July 26, 1838, promoting the exhibition of a live turtle from Georgia, which was soon to become turtle soup on offer at Downing’s Oyster House. Downing, known as the “Oyster King of New York,” owned and operated the Oyster House, one of the most successful eating houses and catering companies in New York during the nineteenth century.

 

 

FULL TEXT

Mr. Editor,—I would respectfully solicit a call from you to my establishment, (5 Broad street,) where you will have an opportunity of seeing a Turtle of rather a singular description. It was caught by a gentleman, at St. Simons Island, Geo., and sent on here as a curiosity; it is esteemed there as a great delicacy. Its shell is perfectly soft, and the formation of the head is worth noticing, differing entirely from the generality of turtles. It will remain here for a time, for exhibition, after which it will be killed, and served up in my usual superior style.

I invite you with the public, to witness this stranger to our market.

Thomas Downing.

New York, July 23d, 1838

Turtle Soup tomorrow, and every day this week. jy24 8t

CITE THIS ENTRY
APA Citation:
Herald, New York. “Extraordinary Turtle at Downing’s.” (July 26, 1838). (2022, November 01). In Encyclopedia Virginia. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/extraordinary-turtle-at-downings-july-26-1838.
MLA Citation:
Herald, New York. "“Extraordinary Turtle at Downing’s.” (July 26, 1838)" Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities, (01 Nov. 2022). Web. 30 Sep. 2023
Last updated: 2023, September 11
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