Visiting Card Collection.

DREYFUS, Alfred; Colonel De Galle; Theodore Roosevelt; Emile Zola; [Eleanor Roosevelt]; [Ilya Trotzky].

$2,600.00

Item Number: 146844

Rare collection of seven printed visiting cards. The collection includes: Alfred Dreyfus, inscribed by him in ink, “avec tous les remerciements,” n.d., 2.25 inches by 3.8 inches; Colonel De Gaulle as Commandant le 507e Regiment de Chars, inscribed by him in ink, “Merci, mon cher ami…” n.d. but after December 1937 when he was promoted to Colonel, 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches; Theodore Roosevelt at Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay, L.I., inscribed by him in ink, “Mr Roosevelt greatly regrets that he can not accede to your courteous request,” n.d., 1.5 inches by 3 inches; Emile Zola at Rue de Bruxelles, Paris, inscribed by him in ink, “Avec mon bien vifs remerciements” and dated in pencil in another hand, “29 avril 1887,” bearing collection label numbered ‘329,’ 2.5 inches by 4 inches; Mr. Theodore Delano Roosevelt at Forty-nine East Sixty-fifth Street, n. d., 2 inches by 3.3 inches; Mrs. Franklin Delano Roosevelt [Eleanor Roosevelt] at the Executive Mansion, n. d., 2.5 inches by 5 inches; Ilya Trotzky, ‘Redakteur-Correspondent der Moskauer Freitung ‘Russkoje Slowo’ at Berlin-Charlottenburg, bearing collection label numbered ‘346’, n.d., 2.6 inches by 4.3 inches. In near fine to fine condition with a closed tear to Theodore Roosevelt’s inscribed card which has been expertly repaired, slight scuffing to the top right corner of Dreyfus’ card where it had been mounted by a previous owner. Accompanied by a typed information card about Ilya Trotzky’s card.

Visiting cards, also called calling cards, were small, decorative cards carried by individuals to present themselves to others in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was a common practice among the upper classes to leave a visiting card when making a social call at their house or workplace.