17.00 USD
A delightful card from the "Motor City," Detroit, Michigan, but from a time shortly before the auto industry had really begun to take off.
Here we see a very charming early example of a glamor gal in men's attire whose image was used as an eye catcher in advertizing for a men's tailor shop. No idea who the model was, but the image was by the National Photograph Company.
The card itself, printed on stock with an undivided back, was probably produced before 1906, which was when the USA began printing divided back cards ( a couple of years after most of Europe). The fact that the card was posted in 1909, suggests that Anthony C. Licht succeeded his brother Frank as early as 1905, and had quite a number of these cards printed, for them to have lasted in the undivided format for at least four years.
Anthony Casper Licht, the proprietor, was the younger brother of Frank J. Licht, known as the "Nobby Tailor." Nobby is a not very common term today, meaning stylish, or chic, originating in the UK, and probably from "noble," as in the "classy" upper class :)
In the 1891 "Detroit in History and Commerce," Frank Licht, the "Nobby Tailor" received some mention. It was said of him that:
"By dint of pushing energy, perseverance,
business integrity and all the qualifications pertaining to his trade,
he has won the enconiums of a large and increasing patronage.
His store is well stocked with an elegant line of cloth and
furnishings, and his prices are as pleasing to his many patrons as
his excellent fits, which are guaranteed to suit the most fastidious."
Born in 1860 to parents who came to this country from Prussia ( a German principality), his father was also a tailor, as he and two brothers, Anthony and William, would become.
Although working as a journeyman tailor in a number of cities outside of Michigan while still in his teens, he returned to Detroit, and opened this shop in 1880. He died in 1908. It would seem from the printing period of the card (1905, as mentioned earlier), that he may have died from a prolonged illness.
Anthony Licht, his brother who succeeded him, seems to have made a go of the business, at least into the 20s, but since in the 1930s we find him working as a garment cutter in that land of golden opportunity, Los Angeles, California, we are thinking the business, like so many others, failed in the Great Depression.
The trade of tailor, like that of garment cutter, was, and still is, often a trade attributed to Jews. The name Licht is also often a Jewish name, but we couldn't find out if this family was Jewish or gentile.
One of the "Reds" of Red Poulaine (not implying any political affiliation :), is our resident genealogist, who really enjoyed researching the history on this card, and we hope you enjoyed reading it.
We love this card! She is so darned dapper, and reminds us very much of some of those wonderful illustrations by artists like Howard Chandler Christy and Harrison Fisher.
Very nice posted condition, but with a small nick along the right edge, center, that is a bit hard to see.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.
Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, the price is the same as for a single card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, due to the costs of international shipping will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more. We do not charge for insurance or shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.
And please come visit our blog at:
redpoulaine.blogspot.com
where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!