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The card is numbered 882, which might mean it is part of a series of cards, but it bears no indication of a publisher. It might be a product of the Art Manufacturing Co. of Amelia, Ohio -- The "Post Card" label on the back is set in the same black-letter typeface as the label on the 1908 Art Mfg. cards, although the double-ruled stamp box is different:
Another clue to its provenance is that another copy of this card was auctioned on eBay identified as "C. V. Williams, Photoette 882." That probably should be "C. U. Williams," and it sets up a chain of speculation about the relationship of Williams and the Art Manufacturing Co. The South Main Street view published by Art Manufacturing also uses a Williams photograph, so the Ohio company might have bought reproduction rights to several Williams photographs. The number 882 doesn't fit into the sequence of the Photoette series of Salem street views, though -- they're all in the 360+ range. Still, the state of the foliage in this picture corresponds to the other views -- take a look at the enlarged section of the South Main real-photo view. It is possible that a version of this photograph is the courthouse view so conspicuously missing from the Photoette set. (2/2/01) |
