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Original handwritten letter dated September 21, 1932, written on Hotel Gardner stationery from Shreveport, Louisiana and mailed to Mrs. Ray J. Carter in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
An interesting piece of Depression-era American business and traveling salesman history. Ray discusses working new sales territory in Shreveport and specifically mentions gum distribution, writing that there was “no distribution on Orbit here at all.” He records his recent sales figures, including cases sold and daily orders, and comments that the results were “not too good but not bad for new territory.”
He also describes Shreveport as having many stores that were widely scattered, requiring them to remain in the area several days longer. Other everyday details include meeting another traveling salesman in the Hotel Gardner lobby who worked for a lubricating company, the hot and sticky Louisiana weather, having his hat cleaned and blocked, and plans for the following week.
Written on attractive Hotel Gardner letterhead featuring the hotel\'s crest. The stationery also identifies Creswell-Gardner Hotels as proprietors and A.P. Gardner as manager.
The matching Hotel Gardner envelope is postmarked Shreveport, Louisiana, September 21, 1932 and retains its 3-cent George Washington stamp. Interestingly, the stamp was placed upside down. In the popular tradition sometimes called “stamp language,” an upside-down stamp could convey a romantic message such as “I love you,” although the sender\'s actual intention cannot be confirmed.
A fascinating original piece of 1930s correspondence combining Depression-era business, traveling salesman life, gum distribution, Shreveport history, hotel ephemera and postal history.
This letter is part of a larger group of original correspondence and is being offered individually.
Please review all photographs for handwriting, contents and condition. Original vintage paper and envelope show expected folds, toning, handling and age-related wear.
