A Collection of Business Card -Order of Railroad Telegraphers, Collected by a Child

Otto Winters

Published by United States, 1890

Railroad business card album of Otto Winters, a life long railroad enthusiast including eighty-nine (89) business cards pasted-in representing train engineers, telegraphers, dispatchers, ticket agents, and others associated with the railroad industry in the late 1880s. Most are located in Wisconsin and the midwest, but other states including New York, Utah, and Texas are also represented. At least two of the cards include small stamp photo portraits (H.H. Weatherspoon and C.B. Hawley). Virtually all included were members of Order of Railroad Telegraphers. The title page is inscribe "Otto Winter. Phil 1:3 (I thank my God in all my remembrance of you) Mother" The album was presumably given to him as a child. Represents rail workers from across the country from Menlo Park , CA, El Paso, Boykins, VA, Baltimore MD and many, many locations in the midwest. Most with ORT logos, some embossed, some with gem photos applied and others with logos from fraternal organizations. Most include their position and/or railroad affiliation. Oblong 8vo (5.25" by 7.75"), approx. 20 blank leaves, 89 business cards pasted-in. Inscribed on first leaf recto, "Otto Winters. Phil: 1: 3. Mother." Loosely inserted in the front are the two calling cards (approx. 1.75" by 3.5" each) of Otto Winters and Minnie Radel. Bound in original red velvet with rounded corners, decorative brass hardware on right-hand corners of upper board. The Collector - Otto Winters The cards appear to have been collected when Winters was a child in the late 1880s. Sadly, he died in a tragic railroad accident towards the end of his career in 1940, when he was acting as head brakeman on the Wisconsin Valley Line of the Milwaukee Railroad; the engine exploded, resulting in the deaths of him and his coworkers, engineer Richard Grorich and fireman Alvin Jantz. Good to very good. Toned with some dust soiling, short tears, wear to edges of text block. Paper brittle/delicate, as least one leaf detached. Damage to upper pastedown. Seller Inventory # 22001773

Bibliographic Details

Title: A Collection of Business Card -Order of ...
Publisher: United States
Publication Date: 1890
Signed: Signed