Showing minor signs of age, wear and handling - mostly edge toning. Expected fold creases from posting. No major issues to note. Eye-catching header text (Printed using thermography—a premium raised-ink process that adds a reflective, tactile texture) Overall, in good to very good condition. Will display well in your collection. You will receive the exact sheet shown in the photos. It measures approx. 8 1/2" x 11"

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1910 R. E. Wathen & Company – Louisville, Kentucky Distillers – Farmdale Pure Rye Whiskey Advertising Letterhead – Bateman-Switzer Co., Great Falls, Montana – Pre-Prohibition Whiskey Tax Correspondence An original August 24, 1910, business letter from R. E. Wathen & Company, Incorporated, Distillers, of Louisville, Kentucky, addressed to the Bateman-Switzer Company of Great Falls, Montana. The correspondence concerns an upcoming state and county tax assessment on whiskey held in bonded warehouses and advises the Montana wholesale liquor firm how to avoid the additional expense by arranging tax payment before September 1. The letter is printed on attractive company stationery featuring the name R. E. Wathen & Company in dark blue lettering, with the word "Distillers" in decorative Gothic-style type. Particularly appealing is the diagonal advertising slogan printed in contrasting red ink at the upper left: "FARMDALE PURE RYE – THE BLENDERS' FAVORITE." The letterhead also identifies three individuals associated with the business: R. F. Wathen, J. B. Wathen Jr., and O. H. Wathen, reflecting the family's involvement in the company's operations. The correspondence is typewritten in blue ink and explains that another year's state and county tax assessment on bonded whiskey will become effective September 1, amounting to ten cents per barrel. R. E. Wathen & Company advises Bateman-Switzer that if it expects to pay the taxes and withdraw whiskey from bond in the near future, it can avoid the additional assessment by completing the transaction before the September deadline. The letter concludes with a friendly expression of goodwill and a handwritten signature beneath the typewritten company name. R. E. Wathen & Company – Kentucky Distilling History R. E. Wathen & Company was associated with the prominent Wathen family of Kentucky distillers, whose involvement in whiskey production extended through much of the 19th century and into the early 20th century. The Wathen family was particularly important in the development of the Kentucky bourbon and rye whiskey industries, with commercial interests centered around Louisville and the surrounding distilling districts. Members of the family were associated with the historic Old Grand-Dad whiskey brand, whose origins trace to the 19th-century distiller Basil Hayden and his descendants. The Wathen family played an important role in the brand's development and commercial distribution before Prohibition. By the early 1900s, the Wathen name was well established in Kentucky whiskey circles, and the family's business interests included the production, aging, and wholesale distribution of distilled spirits. The company's Farmdale Pure Rye brand, prominently advertised on this letterhead, reflects the importance of rye whiskey in the American spirits market during this period. Rye was particularly popular among whiskey blenders and wholesale merchants, who valued its distinctive flavor characteristics when preparing blended products. The advertising phrase "The Blenders' Favorite" was intended to emphasize Farmdale's suitability for this specialized trade. Bateman-Switzer Company – Great Falls, Montana The letter was addressed to the Bateman-Switzer Company, a prominent Great Falls wholesale liquor, wine, cigar, and beverage distributor associated with businessmen David W. Bateman and Jacob Switzer. The company was formally incorporated in 1898 and developed an extensive wholesale business serving saloons, hotels, merchants, and other commercial customers throughout north-central Montana. Its operations were supported by Great Falls' growing importance as a railroad and commercial distribution center. The firm maintained relationships with distillers, breweries, and wholesale liquor merchants throughout the United States, purchasing merchandise for resale to customers across the region. This 1910 correspondence illustrates Bateman-Switzer's direct commercial connections with Kentucky whiskey producers and the importance of bonded warehouse arrangements in the wholesale liquor business. Bonded Whiskey and the September Tax Assessment One of the most interesting features of the letter is its discussion of the annual state and county tax assessment on whiskey stored in bond. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, whiskey was commonly aged in federally supervised bonded warehouses. Distillers and wholesalers could retain whiskey in storage while postponing payment of federal excise taxes until the spirits were withdrawn for sale or distribution. However, whiskey held in these warehouses could also be subject to state and local taxation, creating additional expenses for the owners of the stored spirits. The letter specifically warns that a new annual assessment of ten cents per barrel would take effect on September 1, 1910. By paying the necessary taxes and arranging withdrawal before that date, customers could avoid the additional charge. This provides an interesting example of the financial considerations involved in managing whiskey inventories. For wholesale firms handling substantial quantities of barrel-aged spirits, even a relatively small assessment per barrel could represent a meaningful expense. The correspondence also illustrates how Kentucky distillers maintained regular contact with distant wholesale customers, advising them of tax deadlines and opportunities to reduce costs.

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