New-found issuers of m101

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

I may be wrong, but I'm thinking that these ads were aimed at their newspaper delivery boys, and that there was not intended to be a general distribution of these cards. Hence, the newspapers didn't feel it was worth the cost to get ads printed on the backs of the cards.

Val, While your position makes some sense, I’m not really on board with it. The two Democrat Newspaper ads seem to run the same offer as Altoona Tribune, or very close to it, and of course that sponsor put printing on the back of its cards. The Tribune directed its ads at the kids of the community, telling them they could have the entire set if they would “Simply call at the office and you will receive two coupons. When the coupons are filled out properly the 200 Pictures are yours”.

This sounds like the Okmulgee ad that requires a subscriber and kid to “fill out the following subscription blank”, and prompts the youngsters to “solicit your friends and your neighbors”. The Arkansas ad also has a subscription blank and says “Try your father and mother first, then your uncle and aunt.... [H]ave them sign the subscription blank and mail or bring it to the Democrat office. We will attend to the delivery and the collecting”.

So it seems to me they were just drumming up business and all the local kids were given a chance to build a collection, not just delivery boys. That being the case, I could see them wanting to put some ad printing on the back of the cards, but who knows.

I believe the likelihood that these are blank backs is owing to the fact we have not seen any with ads yet, although that too is not the strongest argument. Unlike m101-4, which Mendelsohn sold directly and which had blank backs, there is no known advertising for blank-back m101-5s. Because his flyer offers bulk cards to businesses and says "Remember, your own advertisement will appear on the back of every photograph", it would seem like any enterprise looking to buy from Mendelsohn would take advantage of having an ad or logo printed.

Still much to learn.