Circa 1908 Souvenir Fan From Cafe Martin In New York City With Race Car On Fan

Rare original early 1900's (circa 1908) souvenir advertising paper hand fan from Cafe Martin with a race car. The art is like what Montaut or Gamy would have done. The fan measures 9 3/4" long closed and opens to 9 3/4" x 17 1/2". In good condition with some small tears on the edge seams. A rare find!

Originally opened in 1899 by a pair of brothers, the French restaurant moved to a location just off Madison Square at the former home of the famed restaurant, DelMonico’s. Cafe Martin was first among New York's many lobster palaces, a set of restaurants that specialized in pricy haute cuisine, most notably lobster. By the end of the nineteenth century, the area around Madison Square Park was losing some of its luster. After being the center of New York’s social scene for nearly twenty-five years, some of its leading hotels and restaurants were beginning to close. Madison Square was still a stylish part of town, prompting French-born brothers Jean and Louis Martin to take over the lease on Delmonico’s old location on 26th Street, well-situated between Fifth Avenue and Broadway. They refurbished the building, giving it the look of a Parisian restaurant, complete with the latest flourishes of Art Nouveau design, and named it Café Martin.
Opening in February 1902, the Café Martin was a gathering spot for the beau monde, the fashionable elite that became known as “café society.” It closed just before World War 1. Louis Martin went on to run but it too went bankrupt, despite the heavy investment in the restaurant’s décor.

Notes: Some small tears at the folds, overall good condition. See photos.

$75 - $125

9.75" x 0.5" x 17.5 open"

Fine Art, Works on Paper

18%

Richard Gabriel | (781) 883-6639 | gabriel@calixbooks.com

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