N.Y.C. Business Cards in Red, White and Blue

Here at the start of the hot season, cards in red, white, and blue, a very traditional summery color-combo. The card above is a nod to Andy Warhol's wooden Brillo box sculpture.  

 In the days before synthetic colorants, red from madder and blue from indigo were affordable natural dyes that the common folk could afford. 

Those early red and blue dyes were also durable--and the reason so many flags feature them. Armies didn't want a flag that faded too quickly in the sun or had colors that ran in the rain. 

 Blue is a highly popular color and red a strong and noticeable one. Countries want their brands to be forceful and at the same time likeable, and the red and blue of Old Glory check those boxes. This Brooklyn pizzeria, by the way, is well worth a trip.

Many New York City barber shop business cards show off the tri-colors of the barber's pole. Time was, a barber also filled the role of make-do surgeon, and the red supposedly represents arterial blood (ew), the blue, venous blood (double-ew), and the white, a bandage (whew).

 201 Mulberry Street, now closed.

 42 Wooster Street.

I love the spelling of "Nuark," New Jersey.

634 Hudson Street.

One version of the Mobil Car Service card . . .

. . . and another version.

The arresting reverse of the All Star card.

To look at more cards from New York City, visit: Seventies-Looking N.Y.C. Business Cards & Bakery Fare on Big Apple Business Cards & Lady Business Cards from the Big Apple