Ottenheimer Numbered Set (1)

Formed in 1890, in Pine Street, Baltimore, MD. In August 1890, Isaac Ottenheimer, age 19 and his 14-year old brother Moses rented one-half of a store located at Baltimore and Pine Streets to sell books. By 1940 the firm had more than 100 joke books, many of them written by the brothers using pen names of Moe and Joe Ott. They also published a great many view-cards of the mid-Atlantic region from early hand colored cards to linens. By 1919, the company of I & M Ottenheimer had moved its headquarters from Baltimore and Pine to 800-802 East Fayette Street. Isaac Ottenheimer and wife lived at 2601 Madison Avenue, apartment 1206 in 1929. He died in 1953. By 1963, the business was being carried on by two grandsons, A. T. Hirsh, Jr and A. D. Sheffler. The firm's headquarters were located in Pimlico.

Sources: Baltimore City Postcardss and Metropolitan Postcard Club of New York City

The cards appear to have been published in distinct series, a plain monochrome and a heavily tinted set. Although not themselves dated, the postcards bear the postmarks of from 1909 to 1911. The numbered cards that I know of are...

2 - Wabash River Bridge
3 - Union Station
5 - St. Benedict's Church
7 - Wabash Avenue West from 8th Street
9 - Indiana State Normal School
10 - Union Hospital
11 - Rose Orphan Home - Two different postcards with the same number
13 - United States Post Office
14 - Rose Polytechnic Institute - Two different postcards with the same number
15 - Collett Park
16 - High School - Two different postcards with the same number
17 - Bird's Eye View from Main Street
19 - Bird's Eye View, Showing River
22 - Bird's Eye View, Looking Northeast from Court House
24 - First Methodist Episcopal Centenary Church
28 - Rose Dispensary

Wabash River Bridge, Terre Haute, Ind.

This postcard was stamped in Marshall, Illinois on January 12th, but has no stamped year. It has the printed text...

2
Published by I. & M. Ottenheimer, Baltimore, Md.

Union Station

This postcard, stamped in Terre Haute on August 28th, 1909, has the printed text...

3
I. & M. Ottenheimer, Baltimore, Md.

St. Benedict's Church, Terre Haute, Ind.

This unposted postcard has the printed text...

5
Published by I. & M. Ottenheimer, Baltimore, Md

I have another copy of this postcard that was stamped in Terre Haute on 11th April 1910.

Wabash Avenue west from 8th Street, Terre Haute, Ind.

This unused postcard has the printed text...

7
I. & M. Ottenheimer, Balto., MD.

Indiana State Normal School

This used postcard with an unreadable stamp, has the printed text...

9
I & M Ottenheimer, Balto, MD.

Union Hospital

This unused postcard has the printed text...

10
Published by I. & M. Ottenheimer, Baltimore, Md.

Rose Orphan Home

This postcard, stamped in Terre Haute on June 16th, 1910, has the printed text...

11
Published by I. & M. Ottenheimer, Baltimore, Md.

I have another copy of this postcard that was postmarked in Terre Haute on December 2nd, 1909

Rose Orphan Home

This unused postcard has the printed text...

11
Published by I. & M. Ottenheimer, Balto., MD.

United States Post Office, Terre Haute, Indiana

This postcard, stamped in Terre Haute, but with an unreadable date, has the following printed text...

13
I. & M. Ottenheimer, Balto., MD.

Rose Polytechnic Institute, Terre Haute, Ind.

This postcard, posted in Terre Haute on July 5th,1910, has the printed text...

14
Published by I. & M. Ottenheimer, Baltimore, Md.

I have another copy of this postcard that was posted in Indianapolis in 1907 that does not have the printed text.

This page created 14th June 2008, last modified 9th February 2010