The early 20th century saw an explosion of companies that relied upon the US Postal Service.
Some companies relied primarily upon mail order business – the largest and most extensive was Sears & Roebuck & Company whose catalogues reached almost every potential consumer in the United States.
Sears, founded in the 1892, did not sell through brick-and-mortar stores until 1925.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sears
Many other companies, even those with physical stores, depended upon the mail for the ordering of goods.
We have seen other examples of postcard orders for clothing, shoes, seeds, produce, pipes, and furniture – whether for personal consumption or for sale in stores.
This postcard order form was used by merchant customers of the M. Born Company of Chicago.
According to the State Historical Society of Missouri:
“M. Born and Company (was) a men’s clothing supplier located in Chicago, Illinois.
The firm’s catalogue “Includes illustrations of the company’s line of day and evening wear.”
“The company was established in 1876 by Moses Born, a German immigrant.”
https://collections.shsmo.org/manuscripts/columbia/c3777
This postcard form seems to be intended for merchants, as it asks the one who is requesting a sample package to estimate the sales total for this location.
The US Library of Congress holds other illustrated catalogues of the M. Born Company.
https://www.loc.gov/item/2018695652
I have attached some illustrations from these sources.
