Both offered as found - pinned together at a top corner. Believed to be related to each other. Showing barely any signs of age, wear and handling. No major issues to note. Eye-catching typefaces / fonts. Overall, in good very good condition. Will display well in your collection. You will receive the exact pieces shown in the photos. The larger sheet measures approx. 5 3/8" x 8 1/2"

===============================================================

1910 Armour & Company – Great Falls, Montana – Original Business Correspondence and Sales Order – Bateman & Switzer – Big Sandy, Montana – Two-Piece Pinned Group An interesting two-piece group of original Armour & Company commercial correspondence and sales paperwork dating from September–October 1910, documenting business transactions involving the company's Great Falls, Montana, office, the prominent local wholesale firm Bateman & Switzer, and a customer in Big Sandy, Montana. The two documents are pinned together at the upper-left corner and appear to have been retained as related business records. The principal document is a typewritten letter dated September 6, 1910, on attractive Armour & Company letterhead. The stationery features the company's name in large decorative black lettering, with its general offices identified as the Union Stock Yards, Chicago, Illinois. The local office location, Fourth Avenue South, Great Falls, Montana, is prominently printed in contrasting red ink. The letter is addressed to Bateman & Switzer, Great Falls, attention Mr. Beers, and confirms a telephone conversation concerning an order placed through an Armour representative, Mr. Confer, by C. B. VanAlstine of Big Sandy, Montana. The correspondence indicates that a copy of the order was being forwarded to Bateman & Switzer for handling. The letter concludes with a typewritten Armour & Company signature line and a handwritten signature in pale purple ink, apparently reading Frank H. McDonnell. Small printer's identification and form information appear at the upper-left corner of the stationery, including a 1909 printing date. The accompanying document is an original Armour & Company "Extract of Beef and Soda Fountain Supplies" sales ticket, printed on a narrow, vertically oriented order form. Its heading identifies the company's specialized line of concentrated beef extracts and soda fountain products, illustrating the diversity of Armour's business beyond its familiar meatpacking operations. The handwritten ticket appears to record an order associated with C. B. VanAlstine of Big Sandy, Montana, with Bateman & Switzer of Great Falls serving as the firm through which the order was to be filled. The salesman is identified as Confer, corresponding to the representative mentioned in the September letter. The order includes several handwritten product entries, quantities, and prices, with a total that appears to be approximately $19.20. A handwritten October 1910 date and additional processing notation appear on the form. The printed order ticket itself carries a small June 5, 1909, printing or form-production notation at the top. The matching customer, salesman, and Great Falls intermediary provide strong evidence that these two documents concern the same commercial transaction or closely related orders. The September letter appears to document the forwarding of an order, while the accompanying ticket preserves the original sales information and subsequent processing notations. Armour & Company – Historical Background Armour & Company was one of America's largest and most influential meatpacking and food-processing enterprises. The business developed under the leadership of Philip Danforth Armour (1832–1901), who established a major meatpacking operation in Chicago during the years following the Civil War. By the late 19th century, Armour had become one of the dominant firms in the American meatpacking industry, operating enormous facilities at Chicago's Union Stock Yards and developing a nationwide distribution network supported by refrigerated railroad transportation. The company was particularly important in the development of large-scale industrial food processing. In addition to fresh and preserved meats, Armour manufactured canned foods, meat extracts, soups, fertilizers, soaps, and numerous other products derived from its extensive processing operations. The firm's Extract of Beef products were widely marketed as concentrated food preparations, while its soda fountain supply business served the growing American market for drugstore fountains, confectioneries, restaurants, and refreshment establishments. Armour's extensive network of branch offices and traveling salesmen enabled the company to reach customers throughout the United States, including smaller communities in the developing western states. Bateman & Switzer – Great Falls, Montana Bateman & Switzer was a well-established Great Falls wholesale liquor and beverage concern operating during Montana's pre-Prohibition era. Associated with businessmen David W. Bateman and Jacob Switzer, the firm developed an extensive trade supplying saloons, hotels, merchants, and other commercial establishments throughout north-central Montana. The company was incorporated in 1898 and maintained its principal business at 406 Central Avenue, Great Falls. Its merchandise included wines, liquors, cigars, bar supplies, and related products. The firm also participated in the carbonated beverage trade, making its involvement with Armour's soda fountain supplies particularly appropriate. The September 1910 correspondence illustrates the company's role as a regional commercial intermediary. Rather than dealing exclusively in alcoholic beverages, Bateman & Switzer could also facilitate the distribution of related merchandise and refreshment supplies to customers in outlying Montana communities. Big Sandy, Montana – Regional Commercial Connections Big Sandy, located in present-day Chouteau County, developed as a railroad and agricultural community along the Great Northern Railway. During the early 20th century, the surrounding region was experiencing increased settlement and commercial activity as homesteading expanded across north-central Montana. The reference to C. B. VanAlstine of Big Sandy illustrates the commercial relationship between smaller railroad communities and larger distribution centers such as Great Falls. Wholesale firms and traveling sales representatives played an essential role in supplying these settlements with merchandise that was not readily available locally. Historical Significance and Physical Characteristics These documents offer an interesting glimpse into the everyday operation of a major national food manufacturer and its relationships with regional Montana merchants in 1910. The Armour letterhead is particularly attractive, combining elaborate black company typography with a bold red Great Falls office designation. The accompanying sales ticket is a practical working document, with handwritten customer information, product entries, pricing, and processing notations. The two pieces are pinned together near the upper-left corner, with corresponding handling and filing characteristics consistent with their retention as a small business record. The sales ticket shows pencil entries, while the letter bears a handwritten signature in pale purple ink. The September 6, 1910, letter and October 1910 sales ticket establish the period of use. The preprinted 1909 form information on both documents provides an additional contemporary production detail.

==============================================================

**Shipped securely in a poly sleeve, sandwiched in cardboard, inside a small rigid mailer via USPS Ground Advantage service w/ tracking**

Click HERE to see matchbooks I have available.
Click HERE to see transit and trade tokens I have available.
Click HERE to see billheads I have available.
Click HERE to see letterheads I have available.

For U.S. based orders, the shipping cost for the first purchase is $4.00 and no extra cost for additional similar items such as billheads, letterheads, tickets, patches, post cards, trade cards, stock certificates that can safely be shipped in the same package.

I have over 65,000 unique items here on eBay - Click HERE to visit my store & save with combined shipping for multiple buys.

For U.S. orders on a PC, use the "add to cart" feature to select multiple items before paying. If the cart does not combine shipping costs, I will refund excess fees as I pack your order the following morning.

I have enjoyed buying and selling vintage collectibles for over 40 years. Unless noted otherwise, all items I offer are original and not reproductions.

Please review photos for condition issues (if any) as they are part of the description, and contact me with questions before bidding or buying.

All items are securely packed and shipped via USPS. Please rely on my 25+ yr. 13,000+ 99.9% feedback rating as a guide to your buying decision.

I hope all is well with you and your family — thanks for stopping by!
– Jerry