














Major & Knapp, originally formed in 1846 in New York City as Sarony & Major, a partnership between lithographer and photographer Napoleon Sarony (1821-1896) and Henry B. Major. With the promotion to partner of Joseph F. Knapp (ca. 1830-1889) and the succession of Richard C. Major over Henry B. Major in 1857, the business was reestablished as Sarony, Major & Knapp. In 1863, Sarony withdrew from the firm, which was renamed Major & Knapp. Major & Knapp operated a Philadelphia branch in 1878-1879 at 150 South Third Street. Instrumental in New York for producing color lithography in the 1840s, especially colored sheet music covers, the firm shifted its specialty to advertising trade cards and tobacco box labels while the Philadelphia branch was active in the late 1870s.