Shortly before 1850 two men left their homelands fleeing revolution and uprisings. Both were destined to join together in their new homeland of America almost 40 years later.
David Lesser was 33 when he left Chełmno (pictured) in northern presentday Poland near the Vistula river. Political upheaval and the beginning of an unsuccessful military insurrection of Poles against Prussian forces was about to begin. He and his family fled to Tipton, Staffordshire, England where he became a clothes salesman. By 1861 he had moved to Spencer Street in Clerkenwell in the southwest of London, He started an export and import business near the University of London. By 1866 he moves his business to America.
Joseph Koehler, Jr. was 4 years old when his family fled Strasbourg, France about 1850. Strasbourg is in the area formerly called Alsace, in northeastern France. It sits near the German border, with culture and architecture blending German and French influences. The 1848 Revolution of France had torn the country apart and the Second Empire with Napolean III was about to start. Joseph's family moved to America and by 1856 they are in New York City.
Joseph, Sr. had a business selling patent medicines, pills, oinments and balsalm. In patent-medicine parlance "balsam" describes an aromatic resin. It came to apply generally to “an aromatic oily or resinous medicinal preparation, for healing wounds or soothing pain.” Hayne's Arabian Balsam was the big seller of the day then. Initially Joseph, Jr. helped run the store but then by the late 1860s he had become a printer. His business was in the same building as his father's at 253 Williams Street.
Joseph, Sr. had a business selling patent medicines, pills, oinments and balsalm. In patent-medicine parlance "balsam" describes an aromatic resin. It came to apply generally to “an aromatic oily or resinous medicinal preparation, for healing wounds or soothing pain.” Hayne's Arabian Balsam was the big seller of the day then. Initially Joseph, Jr. helped run the store but then by the late 1860s he had become a printer. His business was in the same building as his father's at 253 Williams Street.
Williams Street Neighborhood
At this same time David Lesser arrives in New York City and opens up his business at 532 Broadway.
David's Broadway Avenue Neighborhood
Joseph's business was described in an 1891 book intitled "THE HISTORY AND COMMERCE OF NEW YORK".........
The business was established in 1872 by Mr. Joseph Koehler, who in addition to the lines already noted, conducts a highly lucrative trade in fine imported and domestic cigars smoking and chewing tobaccos and smokers articles generally. A large and carefully selected stock of stationery chromographs, office requisites, cigars, tobacco and smokers sundries is kept constantly on hand. Mr Koehler being the first to place on sale in this city the New Year’s calling cards he makes a specialty of them and a large stock of visiting and calling cards are at all times to be found at his large emporium to select from.
The business was established in 1872 by Mr. Joseph Koehler, who in addition to the lines already noted, conducts a highly lucrative trade in fine imported and domestic cigars smoking and chewing tobaccos and smokers articles generally. A large and carefully selected stock of stationery chromographs, office requisites, cigars, tobacco and smokers sundries is kept constantly on hand. Mr Koehler being the first to place on sale in this city the New Year’s calling cards he makes a specialty of them and a large stock of visiting and calling cards are at all times to be found at his large emporium to select from.
Throughout the 1870s David's occupation was stated as "Cards", "Involved In Cards" and "Selling Cards" in the City Directories and Federal Census records. Cards does not specifically mean playing cards. It could be greeting or calling cards. That is, until the 1883 Phillips’ Business Directory of New York City. It then lists David's address under the heading of PLAYING CARDS as the same as "U. S. Card Co.". The location is 211 Centre just 2 blocks from Dougherty Playing Cards at the time.
In an 1884 edition of The American Stationer a reader asks an interesting question. "Who is the maker of cheap playing cards in New York City?" The answer is " D. Lesser is the maker at 211 Centre." The more intriguing part is the question was posed by "L. Brothers & Co.". Was this the famous Longley Brothers of Card Fabrique and Eagle Card fame? And why do they want to know?
Later in 1884 David moves his playing card company around the corner to 6 Howard Street. The business thrives until April 9th, 1886 when a fire occurred in the building. It started in the picture-card manufactory of Greenbaum & Son and spread to David's business. The damage was listed as $500. ($14,000 today) The business was then called Lesser & Son. David's son, William, was now with him.
Somehow David and Joseph made a connection. Joseph had the lithography experience to do the higher quality work that David lacked. I feel that David hired Joseph for several deck designs and he was not actually part of the company. Joseph's business was rather popular by that time and he had just moved to his new location at 150 Park Row. This was better known as Printing House Square.
Printing House Square
David, on the otherhand, calls it quits in the playing card business and at age 74 goes back into the clothing business.
Joseph began publishing view-cards in both continuous tone and halftone lithography as well as real photo cards. He became well known for his early "hold to light" postcards, mechanicals, and exposition cards, ever since publishing an unofficial postcard set of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. While most companies gave up the more expensive chromolithographic printing method in favor of the cheaper halftone printing process, Koehler (a pioneer in halftone technology) had returned to producing chromolithographs. Koehler postcards had a very distinct style to them and this is the reason why his postcards are so sought after by collectors. Strangely, all of his postcards were printed in Berlin, Germany.
Now that we know this about David and Joseph let's go over what the Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards says;
MSW91 GOLD BACKGROUND PLAYING CARDS by Jos. Koehler, Manufacturer, New York, c1885. This is a very unusual and beautiful deck, and the only example of cards we know of by this manufacturer is in the United States Playing Card Co. Museum.
MSW91a COLUMBIA #27, D. Lesser & Son, c1885. In this case the Joker, except for the circle with different initials, is the same as the Koehler Joker. To confuse matters more, a notation with this deck refers to Progress Playing Card Co., New York.
MSW91b D. LESSER MANUFACTURER, c1885. A very different Lesser Ace, which is similar to the Koehler Ace, and a very unusual Joker came with this deck which is unnamed as there is no box.
MSW91c YALE #49, Liberty Card Co., New York, c1890. In this case the Ace of Spades has clear similarities to both the Koehler and second Lesser Aces.
Date appears to be incorrect.
Date appears to be incorrect.
MSW91d UNITED STATES CARD CO., New York, c1880. The similarities between this Ace and that of the Koehler deck, together with the same Joker as MSW91b, demonstrate that the same company made them.
L8 UNITED STATES CARD CO, New York, c1880. Based on comparisons of the courts and the Joker with the Eagle Card Co. deck L5, we can be sure that this brand was another Longley foray into the Eastern Market.
This statement turns out to not be true. The Longleys, long thought to be connected to many card companies, were not. You can read all about them by clicking on this link...............
This statement turns out to not be true. The Longleys, long thought to be connected to many card companies, were not. You can read all about them by clicking on this link...............