Read’s Department Store charge card

Object Number: 
2017.36.1
Date: 
1960s-1970s
Medium: 
Plastic
Dimensions: 
Overall: 1 3/4 × 3 1/2 in. (4.4 × 8.9 cm)
Marks: 
Inscriptions: 
Description: 

White, plastic card with rounded corners, printed in brown. Marked on recto: “READ’S / THIS CREDIT CARD MAY BE USED AT ALL READS STORES / [embossed] 0596 541 3 03 0 / [embossed] VIVIAN B AWNER / [symbol] A UNIT OF ALLIED STORES.” Marked on verso: “This card is the property of Reads and may be cancelled or / modified at anytime, and you agree to return this card to / Reads upon request. This card will be honored in all Reads / stores. Please notify Reads immediately of loss or theft. / Please sign below in ink / [signature in blue ink]”

Gallery Label: 

This charge card is from a New York York City department store, Read's, active from 1857 to 1993.

Bibliography: 
Credit Line: 
Gift of Vivian Awner
Provenance: 
Place Made: 
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Creative: Tronvig Group