Publisher: Behrendt

Richard Behrendt (1854-1909) was born in Germany, emigrated to the U.S. at age 23 in 1877, married German-born Julia Platschek (1865-1945) in 1885, and had three children. Behrendt was an importer and wholesaler of toys, novelties, stereoviews, and postcards in San Francisco. After Behrendt's death in 1909, his wife Julia, son Alvin (1885-1946), son Arthur (1890-1975), and son-in-law Irving Heineman (b. ca. 1882) continued the family novelty business under his name at least through 1932, with offices on the 700 block of Mission. Detailed biographical notes are here.


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Left: Behrendt 217, postmarked Milano 6/21/1906, the earliest date among my Behrendt cards. My Behrendt cards all postdate the earthquake, suggesting that Behrendt became a postcard publisher to capitalize on the earthquake. Next: Behrendt 211, postmark illegible; same sender/addressee as preceding. Next: Behrendt 213, much higher quality printing than other Behrendt b+w earthquake cards. Behrendt's souvenir postcard folder Twenty-Four Views Showing the Destruction of San Francisco by Fire and Earthquake includes all three of these images. Right: Behrendt 238, postmarked SF 4/10/1907; see Earthquake/Fire: Valencia St. Hotel.


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Left: Behrendt, embossed, postmarked SF 12/19/1906, the earliest color Behrendt card in my collection. Next: Behrendt 32, printed in Germany, postmarked SF 1/20/1907. Like many of Behrendt's cards, it uses an image that appears on cards from other publishers: see Golden Gate Park: Midwinter, and similarly Sutro Heights: Parapet, Earthquake/Fire: St. Mary's Bread Line, Hotels: Palace Hotel. Next: Behrendt 174, postmarked Oakland 5/10/1908. Right: Behrendt A-33322 shows that the Behrendt company produced postcards at least through the 1915 P.P.I.E., though I have seen none postmarked later than 6/22/1913 Behrendt 245. The Richard Behrendt Company existed at least through 1932.


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Left: Unknown publisher 334. Right: Tammen 5288. The back center divider "H H T CO" indicates publisher H.H. Tammen of Denver. The "B.N.Co." logo on the back of both cards could stand for Behrendt Novelty Company, but that's just a guess; see Ferry Building: 1915.


Steve's SF postcard pages: