Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
Allen James Rowe
1938 - An elaborate racist hotel advertisement in pidgin English
$100
Item Details
Grand Rapids, Michigan, Hotel Rowe, 1938, Unbound
Very good
This two-page broadsheet printed in red and black on yellow bifold paper measures 8" x 10.25" is enclosed in its original 'mailing' envelope replete with foreign stamps and fake cancellations. In nice shape.
The front page features a photograph of a white man that has been altered so his eyes appear Asian. A Fu Manchu mustache, goatee, and tangzhuang have been drawn in. A 'humorous' "Who is he?" quiz appears next to the image and several lines of faux Hanzi script are written below. "You no understand? Oklay Translation >" is printed beneath the script.
The 'translated" text printed in a silly faux Asian type face is on an inside page.
"Hong Kong, China
"Velly Glood. Here I spleak to you Engleesh. In Amelica, on Decembre 25th they celeblate Christmas. On such Festive occassion they say, "a Melly, Mell Chritmas, and offer hmble thanks.
"I velly, velly anxious to expless to you my humble appleciation for you highly honorable assstance in makng much blusiness at our humble abode.
"You will find a velly fine welcom three hundred sixty-five 24 hours days every year as our honoralbe guest.
"Your humble host wishes you a velly velly fine Chrstmas!
"Allen James Lowe
"Humble Hotel Rowe
"Grand Rapids Michigan.
"December 1938"
The faux envelope has the typed name of an addressee (perhaps a real person) with a printed address in China. Three three stamps are affixed (one from China, one from Austria, and one from Argentina) with fake cancellations and forwarding annotations.
Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
Kurt Sanftleben
11 Hope Road Suite 111-256
Stafford, VA, 22025
United States
Phone: 540-288-8429
Cell: 571-409-0144
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