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Are these actually Columbian Expo related?
Outhaul
Posts: 7,440 ✭✭✭✭✭
Has anyone ever come across these coupon books? I know there was tons of material of all kinds put out related to the Expo. I saw it, it was cheap enough, never seen one before. I did an internet search and came up dry.
I thought perhaps some of our older members who actually attended the Expo would know... 
Cheers
Bob
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This brand of coupon book is from the period (and after) but has no direct ties to the World's Columbian Exposition. It is simply a brand name of the booklet issuing company that takes advantage of the notoriety and popularity of the Columbus 400th Anniversary Of Discovery celebrations held all over the U.S. in addition to the WCE in Chicago. This cross interest marketing tactic is similar to the wide use of swastikas and Billikens during their fads in the '00s and 'teens of the last century as well as the Egyptian craze of the 1920's.
The booklets themselves are set up to easily switch the name and town on the front cover and the names on the individual coupons - a simpe printing process.. The booklets come in various denominations depending on the needs of the individual store and the product associated with the booklet. I don't recall seeing Columbian booklets issued for dairy or transportation use - two other common uses of coupon booklets. One common type of dairy booklet has a familiar Holstein prominent on the cover. I have seen the Columbian booklets from merchants in a number of different states mostly in the Midwest but I recall Columbian booklets from Nevada and other Western states as well. Most coupon books bring prices of less than $50, usually much less, but similar to their metal trade token cousins certain states and merchants can bring much more. Boklets lag far behind in popularity & top end price compared to othe areas as they are in that part currency, part ephemera & part token twilight zone.
@tokenpro
Holy smokes! Thanks for the info. I figured they were along the same line as store tokens, only much cheaper for the shopkeeper. Great information!
Cheers
Bob
I had a collection of actual Columbian expo coupons last year. The Java Village exhibit coupons sold for crazy money. Some of them did have a similar look to those in your booklet.
There is a TON of paper Columbian expo material. And some other fun items. If you think coin prices have dropped in the last 30 years, you should see what's happened to Columbian material.
Interesting information.... I can remember, as a young paperboy, what a thrill it was to get a Columbian half dollar in payment.... Not a lot of them, but I recall getting them two or three times....Cheers, RickO
A while ago I had a large Columbian Expo collection, and I would not believe that these were Expo related
BHNC #203