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Willens & Company business and advertising specimens

 Collection
Identifier: Wing-Modern-MS-Willens & Co.

Scope and Content of the Collection

Collection of business forms and cards, advertisements, and other commercial printing specimens created by Chicago printing firm Willens & Company. Originally compiled in a three-ring binder with a company seal on the cover reading "Willens and Company, successful printers since 1900. Standard business forms and advertising specialties, Chicago." The specimens include business cards; labels; order, receipt, itemized statement, and invoice forms; letterheads, stationery, and envelopes; coupons; match book covers; desk blotters; service tickets and tags; menus; commutation tickets; guest checks; and prescription blanks. Also included in the collection are brochures, catalogs, and other text describing the products and services of Willens & Company and current rates.

The specimens were compiled for a sales representative to demonstrate the company's line of "standardized advertising and printed necessities and to take orders for future delivery." Pasted inside the original binding is an identification certificate dated April 26, 1939, certifying that Stephen Jacumski of Buffalo, New York, is an accredited sales representative of Willens & Company.

Dates

  • Creation: 1939

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The Willens & Company business and advertising specimens are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Willens & Company business and advertising specimens are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections at reference@newberry.org

History of Willens & Company

Willens & Company was a commercial printing firm in Chicago, Illinois, located at 2130-2136 Gladys Avenue. Founded in 1900 by Ben Willens, the company printed standardized stationery, business forms and cards, advertising materials, and other office supplies for commercial clients throughout the United States.

Extent

0.8 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Collection of business forms and cards, advertisements, and other commercial printing specimens created by Chicago printing firm Willens & Company. Also included in the collection are brochures, catalogs, and other text describing the products and services of the company and current rates. The specimens were originally compiled in a three-ring binder for a sales representative to demonstrate the company's line of "standardized advertising and printed necessities and to take orders for future delivery."

Organization

Materials are arranged in the order in which they were originally bound.

Collection Stack Location

4a 30 3

Provenance

Purchase, Steve Finer Rare Books, 2018.

Processed by

Bob Williams, 2021.

Title
Willens & Company business and advertising specimens, 1939
Status
Completed
Author
Jessica Grzegorski
Date
©2022.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512