Alfred Holzman

Alfred Holzman, a German immigrant, arrived in America in 1881, bringing with him entrepreneurial spirit and a keen eye for business opportunities. Nearly two decades later, in 1900, Holzman established his postcard publishing company in Chicago. The Alfred Holzman Company quickly gained recognition for its high-quality postcards, becoming a notable player in the burgeoning postcard industry.

During the first decade of the 20th century, postcards experienced immense popularity in the United States. Holzman's company capitalized on this trend, producing a wide range of postcards that captured the imagination of the American public. The company's success mirrored the overall growth of the postcard market during this period.

However, the postcard industry's fortunes took a dramatic turn in 1909, largely due to the unintended consequences of the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act. Signed into law by President William Howard Taft, this legislation aimed to lower tariffs but paradoxically resulted in increased tariffs on many items, including imported postcards. The impending implementation of the tariff sparked a rush among distributors to import large quantities of postcards, primarily from Germany, before the new rates took effect. This led to a significant oversupply in the market, causing prices to plummet and triggering intense price wars among publishers and retailers. Many businesses found themselves forced to dump excess inventory at greatly reduced prices.

Furthermore, the increased cost of importing postcards due to the new tariff made it less profitable for businesses to continue operating in this sector. The combination of market oversaturation and increased costs dealt a severe blow to the entire postcard industry in the United States.

The Alfred Holzman Company, despite its earlier success, was not immune to these market forces. The collapse of the postcard market in 1909 severely impacted the company's operations, and it struggled to maintain profitability in the face of these challenges. Ultimately, the pressures proved too great, and the Alfred Holzman Company closed its doors in 1910, marking the end of a decade-long run in the postcard publishing business.