Black bear and burro naming contest, Milwaukee, WI, 1923
- Subjects
- AdvertisingWildlife
- Card type
- Real photo
About this postcard
A black bear and a light-colored burro stand facing one another in a wooded clearing, flanked by a large white "A" on the left and a "?" on the right, with the overprint "$50,000 FOR A NAME TO THIS PICTURE / Paul Bunyon Incorporated." The card is a promotional naming contest piece issued by the L.L. Cook Co. of Milwaukee in 1923, trading on the Paul Bunyan tall-tale tradition (spelled "Bunyon" here) with its pairing of a bear and a burro. The white lettering was printed into the photographic image, a common real-photo novelty format of the 1920s.
Postcard Details
MILWAUKEE
Postcard record
| Postmarked | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | The L. L. Cook Co. |
| Condition | Good |
| Place addressed | THE L. L. COOK CO., MILWAUKEE |
| Place mentioned | Milwaukee, WI |
| Place sent from | THE L. L. COOK CO., MILWAUKEE |
| Notes | Black-and-white real photo with white lettering printed in the negative; no white border; light edge wear and discoloration along the right edge. Small dealer mark "17x" in the lower right of the image, below the question mark. No postmark, stamp, or handwriting; back is entirely blank. Divided-back "POST CARD" stock with CORRESPONDENCE and ADDRESS headings and EKC stamp box; light foxing/staining and slight edge wear. |
Cite this card
Black bear and burro naming contest, Milwaukee, WI, 1923, postcard, c. 1930. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/black-bear-and-burro-naming-contest-milwaukee-wi-1923. Accessed November 2, 2026.