Kennedy and Curtis Sporting Goods Trap Shooting

OVERVIEW

Offered is an authentic Victorian era United States postal card mailed locally within Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in September 1889.

This commercial correspondence documents the sporting goods trade of the late nineteenth century and contains a business message from Kennedy and Curtis, a Philadelphia firearms, ammunition, and sporting goods dealer.

Of particular interest is the reference to Schultze gunpowder and Standard Birds, an early trap shooting target product.

The message records inventory shortages and order management, creating a desirable crossover collectible for postal historians, firearms collectors, trap shooting enthusiasts, and sporting ephemera specialists.

FRANKING & POSTAL HISTORY

This is a genuine United States 1 cent Thomas Jefferson postal stationery card, positively identified as Scott UX9.

The card traveled locally within Philadelphia and displays a well struck circular date stamp dated September 6 1889 at 11 PM.

The CDS is paired with a numeral 23 killer duplex marking.

The combination of commercial usage, readable manuscript content, and strong postal markings makes this a superior example of late nineteenth century urban postal history.

CONTEXT & COLLECTOR APPEAL

The reverse features a concise manuscript business message to a representative named John Krian.

Most surviving postal cards contain routine personal correspondence, but this example documents the business side of America's growing sporting goods industry during the height of the Victorian era.

The sender issues an order for two one pound tins of Schultze gunpowder while giving the direct instruction to accept no more orders for Standard Birds, noting they are out of stock.

These references connect the card directly to the development of organized trap shooting and sporting ammunition sales in the United States.

Combined with the Philadelphia postal history component, this creates significant crossover appeal beyond traditional postal stationery collecting.

ITEM SPECIFICS

Country: United States

Year: 1889

Type: Postal Stationery Card

Topic: Commercial Mail Sporting Goods Trap Shooting

Theme: Philadelphia Local Postal History

Subject: Kennedy and Curtis Gunpowder

Era: Victorian Era 1889

Region: Pennsylvania

Stamp Color: Brown

Stamp Denomination: 1 Cent

Printing Method: Typography

Paper Type: Buff Cardstock

Cancellation Type: Circular Date Stamp with Numeral 23 Duplex

Cancellation Date: 6 September 1889

Scott Number: UX9

Features: Manuscript Sporting Goods Order

Custom SKU: US-PA-UX9-1889-KENNEDY-CURTIS-STANDARD-BIRDS

CONDITION

This original postal card is in used vintage condition with expected handling wear consistent with late nineteenth century mail. The card stock shows light uniform age toning and minor edge wear.

The postmark and numeral duplex cancellation are dark, crisp, and fully legible. The manuscript ink on both the address and message sides remains bold and highly readable.

There are no major creases, pinholes, or structural tears.

Please review photographs carefully to determine exact condition.