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ANTIQUE & VINTAGE PLUTO WATER POSTCARDS — BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION OF FOUR ORIGINALS
French Lick Springs Hotel Advertising • Rarely Seen Period Artwork • 1906 Genuine Leather Postcard • 1945 Curt Teich Advertisement
Offered together is a beautiful collection of four original antique and vintage postcards associated with the historic resort town of French Lick, Indiana.
The collection includes two exceptionally attractive early Pluto Water advertising postcards, a remarkable genuine leather postcard mailed from French Lick in December 1906, and a striking 1945 Curt Teich Pluto Water advertisement.
I personally assembled this collection because of the extraordinary visual appeal of the artwork, its historical interest, and the wonderful condition of the surviving pieces.
From the beautifully illustrated red Pluto devil to the bold black-and-yellow advertising of the 1940s, these postcards offer a fascinating glimpse into the history of one of America’s most recognizable mineral water brands.
All four are original period postcards, not modern 1. PLUTO WATER — FRENCH LICK SPRINGS HOTEL COMPANY
Estimated Date: Early 1900s, approximately 1907–1915
Dimensions: 5-1/2” × 3-7/16”
Printer: Pluto Press, French Lick, Indiana
Postal Status: Unused and unposted
An especially beautiful original advertising postcard featuring the famous full-length red Pluto devil, surrounded by an elegant decorative red border.
The front prominently identifies PLUTO WATER and the FRENCH LICK SPRINGS HOTEL CO., with the words “Trade Mark Registered.”
The reverse bears the Pluto Press imprint from French Lick, Indiana.
The rich red printing, graceful typography, and direct association with the historic French Lick Springs Hotel Company make this a particularly desirable example of early American mineral water advertising.
Condition: Very good antique condition. The original red artwork remains beautifully defined, with attractive overall presentation. Natural age-related toning, scattered spotting, and minor edge and corner wear are present. The reverse is unused, with some discoloration near the 2. FRENCH LICK SPRINGS, INDIANA — PLUTO
Estimated Date: Early 1900s, approximately 1907–1915
Dimensions: 5-1/2” × 3-1/2”
Publisher: Hotel Press, French Lick, Indiana
Postal Status: Addressed but apparently never mailed
Another striking early advertising postcard featuring the famous red Pluto devil.
Although similar in subject to the first example, this is a distinctly different design, with its own typography, illustration layout, and printing details.
The front identifies French Lick Springs, Indiana, while the reverse features an attractive period postcard heading and the Hotel Press publishing imprint.
The two early Pluto postcards are especially appealing displayed together, illustrating different interpretations of the familiar mascot during the early years of the 20th century.
Condition: Very good antique condition. The original red artwork remains vivid and well-defined. Natural age-related toning, scattered spotting, and light edge and corner wear are visible. The reverse contains period handwritten address information but no visible postage stamp or 3. ORIGINAL 1906 GENUINE LEATHER POSTCARD — “WHY THE DEVIL DON’T YOU WRITE”
Date: December 1906, confirmed by postal markings
Dimensions: 5” × 3-3/16”
Material: Genuine leather
Postal History: Mailed from French Lick, Indiana, to Chicago, Illinois
A wonderfully unusual original Edwardian-era leather postcard featuring a seated devil holding a pitchfork beneath the humorous inscription:
“WHY THE DEVIL DON’T YOU WRITE”
Unlike ordinary paper postcards, this example was produced on genuine leather, a fascinating novelty postcard material from the early 1900s.
Its preservation is particularly remarkable. The original leather remains supple, with no brittle feel whatsoever. It has been carefully handled and has not been deliberately bent or flexed.
The reverse retains its original one-cent Benjamin Franklin postage stamp, December 1906 postal markings, and handwritten correspondence.
This postcard was mailed from French Lick, Indiana, to Chicago, Illinois, in December 1906, providing a documented connection to the historic resort town during the Edwardian era.
The devil illustration bears a thematic resemblance to the famous Pluto Water mascot, although a direct connection to the company’s advertising has not been established.
It is included in this collection because of its documented French Lick origin, delightful period artwork, unusual construction, and remarkable preservation.
Condition: Remarkably well preserved for an approximately 120-year-old leather postcard. The original leather remains supple rather than brittle. Natural age-related darkening, surface marks, minor edge wear, and period handwriting are present. The illustration remains beautifully visible.
A particularly charming survivor of early American postal 4. “WHEN NATURE WON’T — PLUTO WILL” — CURT TEICH ADVERTISING POSTCARD
Estimated Date: 1945, based on the apparent Curt Teich production code
Dimensions: 5-7/16” × 3-7/16”
Printer: Curt Teich, Chicago
Postal Status: Unused and unposted
An exceptionally eye-catching original Pluto Water advertising postcard featuring the familiar red-orange devil against a dramatic black background.
The enormous yellow PLUTO lettering and memorable advertising slogan create a wonderfully bold example of mid-20th-century American graphic design.
The reverse identifies Curt Teich of Chicago and bears the company’s “C.T. American Art” designation.
The apparent production code, 5B367-N, is consistent with Curt Teich’s 1945 printing sequence.
The contrast between this card and the earlier Pluto advertising postcards beautifully illustrates the evolution of the brand’s visual identity.
Condition: Excellent vintage condition. The black background remains strong, the yellow lettering is vibrant, and the devil illustration is beautifully preserved. Only minor visible surface and edge wear is present. The reverse remains unused, with slight natural age-related THE HISTORY BEHIND PLUTO WATER
Pluto Water was among the most recognizable products associated with the historic French Lick Springs Hotel in French Lick, Indiana.
The mineral water became nationally known through its distinctive red devil trademark and memorable advertising, particularly the slogan:
“WHEN NATURE WON’T — PLUTO WILL”
The unmistakable Pluto devil appeared in a wide variety of advertising materials, becoming an enduring symbol of French Lick’s resort and mineral water history.
This collection offers a beautiful cross-section of early American postcard artwork, historic advertising, and French Lick postal history.
Of particular interest are the two different early Pluto Water advertising designs, the genuine leather postcard mailed from French Lick in 1906, and the dramatically illustrated Curt Teich advertisement dating to approximately CONDITION & COLLECTOR APPEAL
These postcards were personally collected for their exceptional visual appeal, historical interest, and attractive preservation.
The collection features:
• Two beautifully illustrated early Pluto Water advertising postcards
• A remarkable genuine leather postcard postmarked December 1906
• A documented 1906 postal connection from French Lick to Chicago
• A striking mid-century Curt Teich Pluto Water advertisement
• Beautifully preserved original colors, printing, and period artwork
• Original publisher imprints, handwriting, and postal markings
The postcards range from very good antique to excellent vintage condition, with natural age-related characteristics appropriate to their individual materials and histories.
The leather postcard is especially noteworthy for its supple condition after approximately 120 years.
All four pieces have been carefully handled, including the use of nitrile gloves.
Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.
No restoration is claimed.
All four original postcards are being offered together as one collection and will not be ARCHIVAL-QUALITY PROTECTION & NEW BINDER INCLUDED
Each postcard will be individually housed in an acid-free, archival-quality protective sleeve.
All four sleeved postcards will be placed inside a brand-new hard three-ring binder, which is included with the purchase.
The binder will then be securely packaged inside a large, sturdy cardboard shipping box.
This ensures that the collection arrives protected, neatly organized, and ready for continued SHIPPING
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• Ships in a sturdy cardboard box — never a bubble INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
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