A.L. Merrill
A.L. Merrill Publishing Co. was a stationer, retail bookseller and publisher of postcards, as of 1903, located at 304 Yonge Street in Toronto, where the company shared space with Parish Publishing Co. The company published a range of postcards during the first decade of the 20th century.
The publisher had a series of “nature” related cards with scenes inset in a frame adorned with natural elements.
In an interesting sidenote on this publisher, illustrating the perils of the postcard business at the turn of the XXth century, in an article in the 1908 Bookseller and Stationer, entitled "Crusade Against Picture Post Card Dealers—Heavy Fines Imposed”, it was reported:
Toronto, Nov. 7.—A crusade has been carried on by the Toronto Morality Department against sellers of obscene post cards. As a result "raids" have been made, fines imposed and in a few cases warnings given.
Several local dealers who habitually sold such objectionable cards were heavily fined. Mr. A. L. Merrill excused himself on the ground that his stock did not contain such cards, but were purchased by a clerk without his authority, and which the clerk disposed of without his knowledge or profit.
Magistrate Denison dismissed the case on the evidence submitted.
Below are some examples of cards by A.L. Merrill.
Below, examples of postcard backs from this publisher. Card backs are seen both undivided and divided in a range of designs.
