The Duluth Photo Engraving Company published a “souvenir folder” in the early 1920s featuring images previously published by the company as postcards.

The folder itself could be mailed as a postcard for the cost of a penny, as was the one shown above with the postmark of May 30, 1923. Mrs. Etta Stephens of Charlevoix, Michigan, was the recipient. The sender was Rex. J. Stephens, who writes on the flap:

Now at Duluth, Minn. Am going north tomorrow and will write a little from there. I expect to go to work up there for a while at least. Tell everyone hello for me.

Different versions of the “Souvenir Folder of Duluth, Minn.” popped up in future years, including a very similar one that previously appeared on Perfect Duluth Day, postmarked in 1929, which required two cents postage.

Duluth Photo Engraving Company existed as early as 1912 and continued until at least 1971. It was an offshoot of the Duluth News Tribune’s printing plant, operating independently out of the third floor of newspaper’s building. According to a Duluth Herald article from 1922, the company ran its engraving and electrotyping outfit “day and night,” employing 35 people.

“It manufactures all kinds of printing plates in one or more colors for newspapers, catalogs, etc.,” the acticle notes. “Its territory includes the entire states of Minnesota, North Dakota, Northern Wisconsin and Michigan.” It’s interesting that “Northern Wisconsin” is considered an “entire state,” but whatever.

Below are the images from the folder, including a page of information about Duluth that uses statistics from the year 1920.