Showing minor signs of age, wear and handling - mostly light, if any, toning. Expected fold creases from posting. No major issues to note. Eye-catching trademark illustration and bold header typefaces / fonts. 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. 5 1/2" x 8 3/8"

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The E. G. Lyons & Raas Co. – San Francisco, California – September 19, 1910 – Wholesale Liquor Dealers & Distillers – Illustrated Letterhead – $116.58 Payment Acknowledgment Original September 19, 1910, business correspondence on the attractive purple-printed letterhead of The E. G. Lyons & Raas Company, established in 1852, a prominent San Francisco wholesale liquor concern specializing in fine liqueurs and cordials. The letter is addressed to Bateman-Switzer Company of Great Falls, Montana, and acknowledges receipt of a $116.58 remittance, accompanying correspondence dated September 14, 1910. The company confirms that the payment has been credited to Bateman-Switzer's account and expresses appreciation for its continued business. The stationery features an elaborate illustrated trademark incorporating two heraldic lions, grape clusters, ornamental scrollwork, and a circular company monogram. Printed in rich purple ink, the decorative emblem is accompanied by the firm's establishment date of 1852 and its address at 535–551 Folsom Street, San Francisco. The heading advertises the firm as "Wholesale Liquor Dealers – Distillers of Fine Liqueurs and Highest Grade Cordials." Company History – E. G. Lyons & Raas Company The E. G. Lyons & Raas Company traced its business origins to 1852, during the early years of California's Gold Rush commercial expansion. San Francisco was rapidly developing into the principal port and wholesale distribution center of the Pacific Coast, supplying merchandise to mining communities, hotels, saloons, restaurants, and general merchants throughout California and the western states. Wholesale liquor merchants were important participants in this expanding trade, distributing imported and domestic wines, spirits, and specialty alcoholic beverages. The Lyons & Raas business developed within this commercial environment, eventually operating under the incorporated name The E. G. Lyons & Raas Co. By 1910, the firm maintained its business premises on Folsom Street and advertised its specialties in fine liqueurs and cordials. These products represented an important segment of the pre-Prohibition liquor industry, encompassing flavored and sweetened spirits used in mixed drinks, served after meals, and sold through hotels, restaurants, saloons, and retail liquor establishments. The company's prominently displayed establishment date emphasized its longevity and established reputation in the San Francisco wholesale trade. Contents of the September 19, 1910 Letter The correspondence acknowledges receipt of Bateman-Switzer Company's September 14 communication enclosing a payment of $116.58. The principal message reads: We beg to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the Sept. 14th, 1910 with enclosure of $116.58, which we have placed to your credit with thanks. The letter continues with an expression of appreciation for past business and a request for continued patronage. It concludes with the printed company name and a handwritten initial or abbreviated signature, apparently representing an authorized employee of the firm. The correspondence provides a straightforward example of the routine financial transactions that maintained commercial relationships between wholesale liquor merchants and their customers. Illustrated Trademark and Stationery Design The elaborate company trademark is one of the most distinctive features of this letter. Printed in purple, the emblem incorporates two facing heraldic lions, a central circular monogram, decorative grape clusters, and ornamental elements associated with the wine and spirits trade. The circular portion contains the company name, while the lower portion bears the designation "Trade Mark." The letterhead combines this detailed illustration with a mixture of ornamental and conventional typography. Particularly attractive is the use of flowing cursive-style printing for the principal message and closing, giving the correspondence the appearance of a carefully handwritten business letter. The date, recipient information, remittance amount, and specific reference to the customer's correspondence were added in matching purple-blue typewriting. This combination of standardized printed text and individually typed details reflects a common early twentieth-century office practice, allowing businesses to prepare routine acknowledgments efficiently while maintaining a formal and personalized appearance. San Francisco and the Western Wholesale Liquor Trade During the early twentieth century, San Francisco remained an important center for the importation, manufacture, and wholesale distribution of wines, spirits, and specialty alcoholic beverages. Established firms maintained commercial relationships with merchants throughout California, the Pacific Northwest, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana. The expansion of railroad transportation enabled Pacific Coast wholesalers to supply customers located hundreds of miles inland. Great Falls, Montana, had developed into an important regional commercial center serving mining, agricultural, railroad, and mercantile interests throughout north-central Montana. The September 1910 remittance illustrates the ongoing commercial connections between San Francisco suppliers and Montana wholesale merchants. The letter also dates from the decade preceding National Prohibition, which took effect in January 1920 and fundamentally disrupted the established American liquor industry.

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