RARE - 1933 Depression Scrip Postcard Notice (reply postcard) from Pierce Arrow Co., Portland Oregon.

To: Merchants Clearing House Committee, 902 Public Service Building, Portland Oregon

Notice: dated  - November 13, 1933

"In consideration of the participation of the city & county employees in the scrip plan through acceptance of a percentage of their wages or salaries in scip (I, We) the undersigned agree to accept all endorces City-County scrip at face value for 100% of the purchase price of materials, merchandise or services sold or rendered by the undersigned from the date of the inauguration of the script clearing house.  Name of Concern:  Oregon Pierce Arrow Co.  By (I cannot make out the signature)

Postal Cancellation: "Join Red Cross Roll Call"

Postmarked: Portland Nov. 13, 1933

Terrific Portland Oregon, Depression Era Postcard Notice/ Contract /Agreement, for Pierce Arrow of Oregon to accept these issued scrip as payment at the face value of the scrip.  (Please see Depression Scrip history below)

Excellent Condition- does have faint vertical crease at middle of postcard - no tears - minor soiling (has small paper tape at bottom of notice side, but I do not see any tear underneath. I am pretty sure that this was a piece of tape that was original to the card as the original postcard would have included another part of the card that would have been seperate by Pierce Arrow, before signing and sending back to Merchants Clearing House Committee.

Great Addition to any Vintage Depression Era Memorabilia Collection.

measures 5 1/2" x 3 1/2"

Please see scanned images -

SHIPPING IS $2.25 USPS First Class Mail to anywhere in the US

International shipping is USPS First Class International Mail and charges depend on location

all postcards & photos are shipped in double cardboard reinforced envelopes with do not bend & fragile stamped on both sides.  All domestic shipping includes a USPS tracking number. 

PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.  I AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO ANSWER QUICKLY

PLEASE SEE MY OTHER AUCTIONS

I CAN COMBINE SHIPPING TO SAVE ON POSTAGE

THIS IS A NO RESERVE AUCTION

THANKS FOR BIDDING!

Scrip of the Great Depression - History  (from the internet)

The Great Depression of the 1930's was a very important chapter in history.  It provided a great many important lessons for civilization, many of which are yet to be fully grasped.  Much has been written about the nature and causes of the Depression, which need not be repeated here, but for those for whom the event is too remote in time to have much meaning, we will attempt a brief summary.

The Great Depression was world-wide in scope, but it was particularly severe and long-lasting in the United States(34). It was characterized by several concurrent financial and economic symptoms, which the U. S. Department of Commerce listed as follows:

     1)   an unemployed population estimated at over 12 million,
     2)   a serious agricultural situation resulting from excessive production,
           ruinous (low) prices, and large debts,
     3)   a financial and credit system in grave danger of collapse,
     4)   a large internal debt,
     5)   almost insurmountable barriers to foreign trade,
     6)   a perplexing foreign debt situation,
     7)   an unbalanced federal budget,
     8)   disorganized state and municipal finances,
     9)   increasing disorder and an almost complete lack of confidence on the
           part of the people.(35)

Most importantly, however, was the fact that there was little money in the hands of the people, and given their uncertainty about their prospects of getting more of it, people tended to hoard what little money they did have. Hoarding slowed the velocity of circulation, which further reduced the volume of business being transacted. Serious human needs went unmet -- until people began to organize.

Besides learning how to "make do, or do without," people began to establish mutual support structures, like workers' cooperatives, many of which would recycle and repair donated or broken items. People learned to share what they had, and to by-pass the market and financial systems. Most of these measures were considered stop-gaps to be utilized until things "got back to normal," but in some of them there seemed to be the promise of more permanent improvements. One of these "stop-gaps," which was intended to address the problem of the dearth of currency in circulation, was the issuance of "scrip."

History is full of examples of successful local initiatives aimed at providing exchange media, but the Great Depression of the 1930's saw this done on an unprecedented scale. There were literally hundreds of scrip issues that were put into circulation by a variety of agencies, including state governments, municipalities, school districts, clearing house associations, manufacturers, merchants, chambers of commerce, business associations, local relief committees, cooperatives, and even individuals. These issues went by different names, depending on who issued them and the circumstances of their issuance. Common scrip types were certificates of indebtedness, tax anticipation notes, payroll warrants, trade scrip, clearing house certificates, credit vouchers, moratorium certificates, and merchandise bonds.