The Allen Koenigsberg Phonograph Collection
Lot 3523:
Description
This fascinating piece of ephemera is a double-sided promotional letter sent by the Spiegel, May, Stern Co. of Chicago, Illinois, dating to around 1907–1908. Writing from the perspective of an early 20th-century mail-order specialist, the letter enthusiastically pitches the Columbia Graphophone—the “King of Talking Machines”—touting a 30-day free trial and a liberal open-account credit plan backed by their massive $7,000,000 capital. The letter features an impressive illustrated letterhead displaying their expansive Sangamon Street facility and notes Columbia’s grand prize wins at world’s fairs in Paris (1900), Milan (1906), and St. Louis (1904). The document shows expected age-toning, a horizontal fold line across the center from mailing, minimal edge wear, and a faint mirror-image text transfer on the reverse side, but it remains intact with crisp, completely legible type. H 11″, W 8.25″, D 0”. Please see photos for condition. From the Allan Koenigsberg collection.
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