On eBay Now...1898 Mexia TX Jos Nussbaum Co Joseph Scharff Jewish Judaica Letter For Sale
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1898 Mexia TX Jos Nussbaum Co Joseph Scharff Jewish Judaica Letter:
$199.95
Original June 20, 1898 handwritten letter from Mexia, Texas, signed by Joseph Scharff on an impressive lithographed Jos. Nussbaum & Co. business letterhead.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS LISTING IS FOR ONE ORIGINAL 1898 PAPER LETTER ONLY.
The Allen's Foot-Ease advertisement and any other historical/reference images shown in the collage are included for historical context only. They are NOT included with the purchase.
You will receive ONLY the original Jos. Nussbaum & Co. handwritten letter shown in the photographs.
This is an outstanding piece of late-19th-century Texas Jewish commercial history connecting the Scharff, Desenberg and Nussbaum families, important Jewish merchant families associated with Mexia and Limestone County.
The elaborate letterhead reads:
OFFICE OF JOS. NUSSBAUM & CO.
Printed across the top are:
JOS. NUSSBAUM
L. KOHN
JULIUS NUSSBAUM
J. DESENBERG
The stationery was produced by Clarke & Courts, Lith., Galveston, Texas, one of the major Texas printing and lithography firms of the period.
The letter is dated:
Mexia, Texas
June 20, 1898
It is addressed to Allen S. Olmsted of Le Roy, New York.
Joseph Scharff writes that he is enclosing thirty cents in postage stamps and requests a package of Allen's Foot-Ease, the nationally advertised foot-powder product marketed by Allen S. Olmsted.
The historical family connection makes this document particularly significant.
Joseph Scharff was the father of Lenora "Nora" Louise Scharff, who married Julius Desenberg in 1891. Julius Desenberg is the same J. DESENBERG whose name appears prominently across the top of this Jos. Nussbaum & Co. letterhead.
The relationship between these families became even closer when Joseph Scharff's daughter Beulah later married Jack Nussbaum.
The Nussbaum, Desenberg and Scharff families were part of the interconnected Jewish merchant community that played an important role in the commercial development of Mexia and the surrounding area.
Jos. Nussbaum & Co. was associated with Joseph Nussbaum and Julius Nussbaum, prominent members of Mexia's early Jewish business community. Julius Desenberg also became an important local merchant and businessman.
This document therefore preserves a direct connection between three closely associated Jewish families whose businesses and family relationships intersected in late-19th-century Texas.
An additional collectible angle is the Allen's Foot-Ease content. The letter represents an actual 1898 mail-order transaction for the widely advertised patent-era consumer product sold by Allen S. Olmsted of Le Roy, New York.
The visually striking Jos. Nussbaum & Co. lithographed letterhead is exceptionally displayable and features large shaded lettering, the firm's principals across the top, and "Mexia, Texas" prominently printed beneath.
Approximately 8 inches wide as photographed with ruler.
Condition is original antique used condition with expected folds, age toning, handling wear, small crease/tear near the lower portion and period blue-pencil marking. Please examine all photographs closely for exact condition.
An excellent historical document for collectors of:
Texas Judaica
Jewish-American history
Mexia Texas history
Limestone County history
Texas merchant history
Nussbaum family history
Desenberg family history
Scharff family history
19th-century business letterheads
Clarke & Courts Galveston lithography
Allen's Foot-Ease advertising
Patent medicine and advertising ephemera
Texas business history
Guaranteed original period document, not a reproduction.
Type: Handwritten Business Letter / Ephemera
Date: June 20, 1898
Location: Mexia, Texas
Sender: Joseph Scharff
Recipient: Allen S. Olmsted, Le Roy, New York
Business Letterhead: Jos. Nussbaum & Co.
Names on Letterhead: Jos. Nussbaum, L. Kohn, Julius Nussbaum, J. Desenberg
Lithographer: Clarke & Courts, Galveston, Texas
Subject: Order for Allen's Foot-Ease
Historical Theme: Texas Jewish / Judaica / Merchant History
County: Limestone County, Texas
Era: 1890s
Material: Paper
Language: English
Signed: Yes
Condition: Original antique condition with folds, toning, handling wear, small tear/crease and period markings as photographed
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