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.

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

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co

No Series

Inland Vertigen

For other variations see The Milkman

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]

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co, London

Series 5355

Early Saxony

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

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

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

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

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

No Signature

H Vertigen & Co, London E.C.

No 6421

Inland Saxony style back but "Printed in Holland"

Housemaids Knee

A Pleasant Complaint

No Signature

Copyright

No Publisher

Writing Saxony

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

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

The Girls:- "My long lost husband!"

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

No Signature

No publisher

Printed in England

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

A spiritualist am I

Without a single care

For spirits make me see when dry

Some things which isn't there

No Signature

[Country printed not known]

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.