Folgers Pigeon-Gram

This is a Folger's Pigeon-Gram and its original envelope. The items are dated 1938. The letter reads in part:

J.A.Folger & Co.
Los Angeles - San Francisco - Kansas City

The enclosed "Pigeon-Gram" comes to you through the courtesy of the Folger Coffee Company. The Pigeon-Gram was written by the signer at a Folger Coffee Demonstration held in one of the many fine Markets renowned throughout Southern California.

The Pigeon-Gram was accepted by the Folger Representative in the market and placed in a tiny message holder fixed on the leg of one of the Famous Folger Homing Pigeons. The bird was then released and bearing the Pigeon-Gram you are now receiving,flew to its home loft. Depending on the location of the store,this distance varies between ten miles and one hundred and fifty.

As these remarkable birds average sixty miles per hour in flight,the elapsed time is not great.As soon as the bird reaches its home,the Pigeon-Gram is removed from the bird's leg and forwarded to you through the United States Mail by the Folger Coffee Company.

The Folger pigeons are the same type of birds which won world-wide renown in the Great War. Among their many exploits were the saving of the Lost Battalion and their carrying of messages for the beleagured French garrisons at the Battle of Verdun."

The Pigeon-Gram is printed on yellow paper and pictures a coffee can. It is addressed to Mr.Harold Landes of Troy, Ohio and reads "Will answer letter soon - All well- Aunt Ella".

The bottom reads:

"Brought to you by the Famous Folger Pigeons. - Section 598A Penal Code of California - 'Every person other than the owner thereof who shoots, maims, kills, or detains any Antwerp messenger or Homing Pigeon is guilty of a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine of not less than $10.00 or more than $25.00 or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 50 days.'

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