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"

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

1910 R. E. Wathen & Company – Louisville, Kentucky Distillers – Farmdale Pure Rye Whiskey Advertising Letterhead – Bateman-Switzer Co., Great Falls, Montana – Pre-Prohibition Whiskey Sales Correspondence An original October 7, 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 the promotion and sale of the company's Farmdale Pure Rye Whiskey, including an unusually generous offer to repurchase unsold merchandise with a six-percent return on the customer's investment. 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. At the upper left, a prominent diagonal advertising slogan printed in contrasting red reads "FARMDALE PURE RYE – THE BLENDERS' FAVORITE." The letterhead also identifies R. E. Wathen, J. B. Wathen Jr., and O. H. Wathen as individuals associated with the business. The correspondence is typewritten in blue ink, with the Farmdale brand name emphasized several times in contrasting red. It acknowledges a letter from Bateman-Switzer dated October 4 and addresses the Montana company's reluctance to purchase additional Farmdale whiskey until it could determine how well the product would sell to its customers. R. E. Wathen & Company explains that its oldest available Farmdale whiskey was from the spring 1909 distilling season, with only 28 barrels remaining from that production. The company expresses considerable confidence in the quality of the whiskey, claiming that it would provide greater satisfaction than competing rye whiskeys handled by Bateman-Switzer. Most interestingly, the distiller offers to accept an order for all or part of the remaining 28 barrels and guarantees that, should the Montana company's customers prove dissatisfied, R. E. Wathen & Company would repurchase the merchandise and pay Bateman-Switzer six percent on its investment. This unusual sales arrangement illustrates the aggressive marketing practices sometimes employed by distillers seeking to establish or expand distribution of their proprietary brands. The letter concludes with a request for an early reply, noting that the whiskey remained subject to prior sale. It is signed in ink by O. H. Wathen, identified as secretary of the company. 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 and distribution extended through much of the 19th century and into the early 20th century. The Wathen family was an important presence in Kentucky's bourbon and rye whiskey industry, with business interests centered around Louisville and the surrounding distilling districts. Members of the family were also associated with the historic Old Grand-Dad whiskey brand, whose origins trace to Basil Hayden and his descendants. By the early 1900s, the Wathen name was well established in the Kentucky whiskey trade. The family's commercial interests included distilling, aging, warehousing, and distributing whiskey to wholesale merchants throughout the United States. The company's Farmdale Pure Rye brand was marketed particularly toward whiskey blenders, as emphasized by its advertising slogan, "The Blenders' Favorite." Rye whiskey was valued for its distinctive flavor and was widely used both as a straight whiskey and as an ingredient in blended products. The letter's reference to the spring 1909 production is particularly interesting because whiskey was frequently sold by its distilling season or warehouse inspection date. Such information allowed wholesale purchasers to evaluate available stocks according to age, quantity, and expected market demand. The limited remaining inventory of 28 barrels suggests that the company was actively marketing a particular production lot rather than simply soliciting routine orders for its general product line. Bateman-Switzer Company – Great Falls, Montana The Bateman-Switzer Company was a prominent wholesale liquor, wine, cigar, and beverage distributor operating in Great Falls during Montana's pre-Prohibition era. Associated with businessmen David W. Bateman and Jacob Switzer, the company was formally incorporated in 1898 and developed an extensive regional business supplying saloons, hotels, restaurants, merchants, and other commercial establishments throughout north-central Montana. Great Falls was an important railroad and commercial distribution center, making it a natural headquarters for wholesale firms supplying smaller Montana communities. Bateman-Switzer maintained commercial relationships with distillers, breweries, and wholesale liquor merchants throughout the country, purchasing merchandise for resale through its regional distribution network. This correspondence provides an interesting example of the company's direct dealings with an established Kentucky whiskey producer. The letter also suggests that Bateman-Switzer was carefully evaluating customer demand before committing to additional purchases, reflecting the competitive nature of the wholesale liquor business. An Unusual Guaranteed Whiskey Sales Offer The most distinctive feature of this correspondence is the company's willingness to guarantee the commercial success of its Farmdale whiskey. Rather than simply offering a discount or favorable payment terms, R. E. Wathen & Company proposed to protect Bateman-Switzer against the risk of purchasing whiskey that might not satisfy its customers. The promise to repurchase the merchandise and pay an additional six percent return on the investment was a strong expression of confidence in the product. It also illustrates the importance of maintaining relationships with established wholesale distributors, particularly those operating in distant western markets. The reference to only 28 remaining barrels and the request for an early response added a sense of urgency to the offer. Such correspondence provides valuable insight into the salesmanship, credit arrangements, and competitive pressures of the American whiskey industry during the years preceding national Prohibition.

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

**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