Publishers

"H Vertigen & Co"

also Howe, Vertigen & Co, and H. V. Co. Ltd.

In 1904 Mr Howe linked up with Herbert Taylor Vertigen (who had worked with Henry Moss & Co) to produce post cards by Howe, Vertigen & Co. Mr Howe left in 1906 and a wide variety of cards were produced by H Vertigen & Co, of 12 Carthusian Street, Aldergate Street, London, the majority being printed in Saxony and sometimes labelled "H. V. & Co."  From November 1909 the company traded as "H. V. & Co. Ltd." but seems to have stopped trading shortly afterwards.

 

This company is of particular interest because some of Fred Stone's earliest card were published circa 1904 by Henry Moss at the time that Herbert Vertigen was working at that company (which ceased to trade shortly afterwards). Subsequently H. Vertigen and Co's name appears on at least five of the "F S" sets published around 1906/7. At around the same time Vertigen was publishing a variety of post cards with the same or very similar "Printed in Saxony" backs.

 

These other cards included a number of unsigned "F S" style sets and individual cards, with Saxony backs, which could indicate that Vertigen continued to use "F S" as an artist for a short time after the London View Co. Ltd closed in 1907. Later a number of these cards were republished on the same style of "no publisher" backs as cards known to be by "F S." and it seems that many of the unsigned reprints of "F S" style cards after 1910 may have come from masters held by Vertigen before it went out of business.

 

So far I have no evidence for any "F S" style cards (or any other comic cards) being produced by Moss, Vertigen & Co (up to 1906) or by H. V. & Co. Ltd, (from 1909). It could well be that "F S" was the first comic card artist Vertigen used and other artists were only used when the London View Co Ltd. "F S" cards were no longer being produced..

 

It may be a coincidence but both Frederick Spurgin, and Herbert Vertigen's wife Annie Levine were born in Russia and came to London with their parents - so may have known each other through the Russian community in London.

Examples of cards published by Howe, Vertigen & Co (Printed in England)

Windsor Castle

H V & Co, London    No 5047

21 March 1905

 

Near Abingdon Lock

H V & Co, London    No 5047

24 July 1905

 

Albert Memorial

H V & Co, London    Copyright Series No 5

10 December 1905

Pull's Ferry, Norwich

Series 5156 Printed in England

Howe, Vertigen & Co, London E C

16 January 1906

 

 

 

Irstead Staith - Series 5167

Howe, Vertigen & Co, London E C

Posted 20 November 1906

Norfolk War Memorial

Norwich

Howe, Vertigen & Co, London E C

(Early Saxony)

 

Many of the views were of Norfolk, the county where Herbert Vertigen was born. Many other different types of cards were also printed.

 

 Horing Ferry - Series 5156

Posted 9 November 1906

When our heads are bow'd with woe ...

Howe, Vertigen & Co, London E C

No 1000

 

Fred  Howe, Vertigen & Co, London E C

(Early Saxony back in green)

 

Old Catton Church, Norwich

Howe, Vertigen & Co, London E C

Early Saxony Back

H. Vertigen & Co. cards from "F S" Card Sets  (Saxony publishers)

It is never too late to turn over a new leaf

[New Leaf]

H Vertigen & Co Series

Early Saxony

Be Good

and if you Can't be careful

H Vertigen & Co, London Series 5356

Early Saxony

4 September 1907

Catching the Post

[Post]

H Vertigen & Co Series

Early Saxony

25 March 1908

?

[Xmas - Small Box]

Good Fortune smile on you this Christmas

Unsigned

H Vertigen & Co

Inland Vertigen

The Girls admire Tommy

Signed "F S"

H Vertigen & Co. London EC

Inland Vertigen

8 June 1908

Puzzle!

Who has to pay for drinks

Vertigen 5481

 

Unsigned series in the "F S" style published by H. Vertigen (Saxony publishers)

The British Workman

Everyone Works but Father

No Signature

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co

Early Saxony

24 February 1909

[Fleas]

A flea in the hand is worth two in the bed

No Signature

Copyright

H Vertigen & Co, London E.C.

Writing Saxony

 

Unposted
This is where the Milkman comes in!

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co

No Series

Inland Vertigen

 

For other variations see The Milkman

20 November 1909
       

Unsigned H Vertigen Cards possibly by "F S"?  (Saxony publishers)

John! John! John!

Go and put your trousers on

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co

No Series

Inland Vertigen

 

[Also same back with no publisher]

4 May 1908

[19 September 1908]

 The Merry Widow

This is the 4th Time

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co

No Series

Inland Vertigen

25 June 1908

[23 November 1909]

[30 December 1911]

What the eye doesn't see

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co, London

Series 5355

Early Saxony

 

24 September 1907
[image to be posted] Poor Jock

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co, London

Series 5356

Early Saxony

October 1907

 

The Sausage was a fat one

The outside was a skin

The Inside was a mystery

Of a dog called Little Jim

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co

Series 6071

Inland Vertigen

 

See also Writing Space II

Unposted

[15 September 1911]

The Sausage was a fat one

The outside was a skin

The Inside was a mystery

Of a dog called Little Jim

No Signature

No Publisher

Series 6071

Inland Vertigen

 

Unposted

Old Mother Hubbard, she went to the cupboard

To get the poor girl a new dress

When she got there, the cupboard was bare

And so was the girl I guess

Unsigned 

No Publisher

Series 6072

Inland Vertigen

 

Why Lucy did not get the letter

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co

Series 6074

Inland Vertigen

15 August 1908

11 January 1909

Some are born Great

Some achieve greatness

and some have greatness thrust upon them

Shakespeare

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co

Series 6201

Inland Vertigen

4 December 1909

The boy stood on the burning deck,

His feet were all in blisters,

His knickers were burnt off his back

So he put on his sisters!

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co

Series 6219

 

Also [PC.I]

 

Go away you rude man

Garn! Ankles are no treat to me. I'm a bus conductor

No Signature

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co

Series 6230

 

[Also Writing Space]

9 September 1911

Put your kilts doon, Jock.

You'rs a big braw laddie the Noo!

Signed "F S"

 

[see Kilts]

H Vertigen & Co, London E.C.

Series 637x

Series No 6370/2

21 June 1910

Only Sinners stand on Slippery Places

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co.

Series 6384

Inland Saxony style back but "Printed in Holland"

 

 

I like Plenty for my money

Unsigned

H Vertigen & Co, London E.C.

No 6387

Inland Saxony style back but "Printed in Holland"

 

See differently coloured version

 
The Water is not quite up to the mark

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co, London E.C.

No 6421

Inland Saxony style back but "Printed in Holland"

29 April 1910

Variant

No publisher or signature

Printed in Germany

28 August 1913

Housemaids Knee

A Pleasant Complaint

No Signature

Copyright

No Publisher

Writing Saxony

7 October 1908

Housemaids Knee

A Pleasant Complaint

No Signature

 

[Duplicate]

Printed in Germany

Writing Space

25 October 1912

Housemaids Knee

A Pleasant Complaint

No Signature

 

No publisher

Printed in Germany

Writing Space

4 October 1911

Unsigned H Vertigen Cards possibly by "F S"?  (English publishers)

The Girls:- "My long lost husband!"

He:- "I'm blowed if I know which is which!"

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co

Printed in England

Unposted

The Girls:- "My long lost husband!"

He:- "I'm blowed if I know which is which!"

No Signature

No publisher

Printed in England

 

Unposted

Keep off the Grass

First I presented her with this

Then this

Then this

And then her husband presented me with this!!!

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co

Printed in England

3 August 1911

A spiritualist am I

Without a single care

For spirits make me see when dry

Some things which isn't there

No Signature

H Vertigen

[Country printed not known]

 
H Vertigen Comic Cards signed by other artists (Saxony Publishers)

After the Regimental Dinner. Confound you Sergeant, why don't you keep your mouth shut by

W W Lendon

H Vertigen & Co, London E C

Inland Vertigen

Posted 29 August 1908

I Shay Ole Fella. What Regiment D'Ye Belong to Hic

Unsigned

H Vertigen & Co, London E C

Inland Vertigen

Posted 15 January 1908

The Typist

Flirting with the Clerks

Signed F V P

H Vertigen & Co, London E C

Early Saxon

Our Office Boy by A E

H Vertigen & Co

(Early Saxony)

posted Aug 1907

 

The Young Man's Fancy by E W

H Vertigen & Co

(Inland Postage back)

 

 
Moonlight Romance

This card is of interest because cards to the same design were also published by the London View Co. Ltd - possibly suggesting early co-operation between the companies.

 

 

Kiss me Pet! Don't Deceive me, etc

H V & Co, London

Series 5071

24 June 1905

A varied sample of other H Vertigen & Co cards

I've lost my Nurse

6070

2 September 1908

 

Birthday Greetings

5821

Richmond Bridge

H V & Co [Logo] 5008

 

 

Near Godstow

H V & Co  Series No 5973

31 October 1908

 

Life in our Army

Territorialist Guns and Rifles preparing to March

 

Miss Kitty Gordon   Miss Billie Burke

Series 6208

 

A Life on the Ocean Wave

You are a naughty doll ..

Series 6285/3

Printed in Germany

Jolly Jack tar ..

Series 6285/6

[Back as the upper card - but no publisher name].

To wish for a happy birthday

Vertigen & Co  474

I do not like my bath this morning

The water's really much too cold ...

Series 637

Hands across the sea

Good Luck to you upon this dsy

When sailing far from England's Shore

May Peace and Joy pursue your way

Until we meet to part no more.

H Vertigen & Co, London

Series No 98   Inland (1)

Posted July 1910

 

Across the Sea I greet thee

When happy of submerged in sorrow

Will you sometimes think of me

And of those whose thoughts do follow

You o'er land and sea.

H Vertigen & Co, London

Series No ??   Inland (1)

8 October 1910

ß Miss Adrienne Augarde

H Vertigen & Co, London E.C.

Posted 26 April 1908

In addition to the text on the back the photograph also includes:

H V & Co No 5900/2

Photo Lizzie Caswall Smith

 

It's nice to sit and think and fish, à

 And fish and sit and think,

And think, and fish, and sit and wish

That you could get a drink

H V & Co, London

Series No 5024

Posted 12 September 1905

The Tower of London, London

 

Ludgate Circus, London

 

The Dome, St Paul's Cathedral, London

Embossed Views

 of London

H Vertigen & Co Ltd., London

 

St Paul's Cathedral, London

 

Trafalgar Square showing National Gallery

 

Horse Guard, London

 

Tower Bridge, London

 

Printed in Prussia

Example of a later

H. V. & Co Ltd card

(Printed in Saxony)

 

Christmas Greetings

I would not wish the wealth alone,

For wealth may pass away,

But Health, Peace, Happiness and Love,

Be yours this Xmas Day.

 

Posted 24 December 1910

To greet your Birthday

A tribute small I send to you

With every loving thought

All happiness be thine to-day

And care be set at naught

 

Posted July 1910

Biographical Information

1891 Herbert T Vertigen (16, born New Buckenham, Norfolk) student, living with parents Isaac Vertigen (48) solicitor's clerk and registrar of births, and his mother Eliza (51) in Kings Street, New Buckenham.

 

1901 Herbert T Vertigen (26, born New Buckenham, Norfolk) a commercial traveller boarding at 359 Amhurst Road, Hackney.

 

1905 Herbert Taylor Vertigen was living at 2e, Morgan Mansions, Morgan Road, Lower Holloway

 

1905 (September quarter) Herbert Taylor Vertigen married Annie Levine in West Ham.

1891 census shows Annie Levine (13, born Russia) with her parents Larus & Polly Levine (born Russia) and sibling  [Rebecca (4) born in Mile End, London] living in Plummers Row, Mile End. Ten years later she was still in Mile End, as a tailoress in lodgings. It may be a coincidence but Herbert Vertigen's wife came to London from Russia with her parents and sibling at about the same time as Frederick Spurgin and his parents made a similar move.

In 1908 two Russians were charged for fraudulently stealing money from a number of firms including £10 from Messers. Vertigen & co., Carthusian-street, London. The scam was to send a telegram purportedly from one of their salesmen, saying he urgently needed additional funds. A cheques was sent to the address in the telegram, which was cashed in the salesman's name.

Boston Guardian, 16 May, 1908

 

1911 Herbert Taylor Vertigen (36, born New Buckenham, Norfolk), a Christmas Card Publisher and dealer, was living at 19 Dangan Road, Wanstead, Essex, with his wife of 5 years, Annie [Levine] (30, born Russia) - no children.

 

1938 Herbert Taylor Vertigen of 19 Dangan Road, Wanstead, died 28 May 1938. Probate to widow, Annie Vertigen.