A. Yerkes

Alfred N. Yerkes (1852–1936)

Comic & advertising postcards, ca. 1905–1907

Brief biography

Little is securely documented about Alfred N. Yerkes—including what the middle initial stands for or whether he primarily worked as an artist, printer, or publisher. What is known: he was born April 15, 1852, in Cincinnati, and died July 18, 1936. His parents were Joshua Yerkes and Elizabeth Brown. He married Mary Frances and died a widower. City records indicate he worked as a clerk for a lithographer in Cincinnati for a period.

Thank you to Vance Pollack for assistance.

Known postcard designs credited to “A. Yerkes”

Working checklist. Series marks with a circled H are likely Hagelstein Bros. (inferred). Please send additions or corrections.

• H 779 — “Vat! Somedings for Nodings — ethnic caricature — copyright 1905 by A. Yerkes. Postmarked 1906.
• H 781 — “Von’t you be mein” — ethnic caricature — copyright 1905 by A. Yerkes. Postmarked 1906.
• H 782 — “And he winked the other eye” — racial caricature — copyright 1905 by A. Yerkes. Museum example noted.
• “Oh what a head I have got” — hangover gag — copyright 1905 by A. Yerkes (seen on examples).
• “Thought I’d better get a hump on” — animal/camel gag — copyright 1905 by A. Yerkes.
• “Just tell them that you saw me” (song-lyric comic) — published by U.S. Novelty Co. (attributed to A. Yerkes on sample).
• “My train was late” — No. 671 — travel gag — sometimes credited “Published by A. Yerkes.”
• “I’m in a hurry” (man chased by bull) — slapstick — postmarked 1906 on examples.
• “Pointer Dog Hunting” — sporting dog comic — credit seen on examples.
• Advertising: Cross Creek Lehigh Coal — credited to A. Yerkes.
• Advertising: Norwich Boilers, Young Boiler Co., Boston — “Copyright 1905 by A. Yerkes.”

Last updated: 2025-10-23.

FAQ

Why does a circled “H” appear on some A. Yerkes cards?

Several postcards credited “Copyright 1905 by A. Yerkes” also carry a small H in a circle followed by a 3-digit number (for example, H 781 on “Von’t you be mein” and H 782 on another documented example). This mark behaves like a printer’s series code and refers to Henderson Litho Company.

What was the connection?

Yerkes drew or wrote the comic concept → U.S. Novelty Co. published and marketed it → Henderson Litho Co. printed it.

What printing method was used?

Color lithography with bold black keylines and flat spot colors. Printers are typically uncredited on U.S. comic cards of this period.

Active years?

Most dated examples are from 1905–1907 (the undivided-back era in the United States).