San Francisco Chinatown Guide Trade Cards
San Francisco Chinatown Guide Trade Cards (3)
Notes: Three trade cards from white San Franciscans offering to provide tourist guides into Chinatown. One card, with a handwritten note on the back (verso) dated 1888, predates the 1897 ordinance requiring guides to be licensed; the other two cards likely dated from the first decade of the 20th century.
1) Walter J. Field, Chinese Interpreter. Tourists visiting the city, desirous of seeing Chinatown, will find me a responsible, reliable, and thoroughly competent guide.... On the verso is a note from February 22, 1888, in pencil from Field to an unnamed potential client, "D[ear] Sir! I will see you at your room at 7 o'c[lock] this evening. I will know by then if I have a party or not." 4 by 2-1/2 inches; printed on the front only.
2) Claude M. Hirschey Licensed Official Guide for Chinatown (Shield No. 11). Officially appointed by the Board of Police Commissioners... A small brochure describing Hirschey's Chinatown tours and other sightseeing excursions in San Francisco. Four-panel, doubled-sided brochure, measuring 3-1/2 by 5-3/4 inches when folded.
3) Wm. L. Ward, Chinese Interpreter. Licensed guide for City and County of San Francisco. Shield No. 25. Chinatown a specialty. Appointed by police commissioners, affording police protection. Parties leave Hotel Netherland.... A single sheet, printed on blue paper, folded to make four 3-1/4 by 5 inch pages. There is a halftone photograph of Ward wearing his badge on the front; the remaining pages list typical attractions, including "little feet women", "the opium den", and "the cats with the opium habit."
In 1897, the City of San Francisco passed an ordinance requiring Chinatown guides to pay a fee and obtain a license. A year later, just a dozen guides had complied of the estimated 300 working in the neighborhood. See the San Francisco Examiner, 6 March 1898.
Edition + Condition: The Field and Ward cards are near fine; the Hirschey has an old fold and is otherwise very good.
Publication: San Francisco: 1880s–1900s.
Item No: #308153
Sold