$12.00 CAD
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Albumen photograph cigarette card of a woman from the Actresses series, issued ca. 1890. Posing provocatively.
Scarce, seldom seen.
4” x 2 ⅜”
UL corner crease. Photo bit faded. Some toning on back.
Article that appears in “A Descriptive Review of the Manufacturing and Mercantile Industries of the City of Baltimore 1882”:
“The well-known house of Messrs Gail & Ax has a national and worldwide reputation as manufacturers of smoking tobacco, fine cut chewing tobacco and snuff of various grades. The firm consists of Mr. George W. Gail and Mr. Christian Ax. The father of Mr. Gail, the founder of the house, began business at Glesen, in Germany, in 1807. The son began business in 1850 on Pratt Street near Charles Street, on a small scale. In 1853 the first wing of the present large factory was built on Barre near Charles Street, and in 1855 Mr. Ax joined the firm. In 1850 the present large factory was completed, and to accommodate a largely increased business, two additional wings were built making a structure five stories in height, 144×183 feet, giving employment to about 350 hands, including many skilled workmen. This establishment is supplied with the most perfect machinery in use for manufacturing purposes, for the making of smoking tobacco; fine cut chewing tobacco and snuff. One of the most famous brands of smoking tobacco turned out by this house is the “Little Joker”, which is popular all over the United States on account of its excellence. The bulk of the trade of the firm is in the long cut smoking tobacco. The house uses Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Maryland and some imported tobacco in the manufacture of their goods. The annual consumption of this firm reaches between two and a half and three million pounds. The trade of the house extends all over the United States and abroad. This is the pioneer firm in smoking tobacco in Baltimore, and has done much to build up permanently and substantially the tobacco trade of the city.”
http://morrisoncountyhistory.org/?page_id=4780
