Five Begging Postcards for A. Souslin.

[Dayton, Ohio], Circa 1909. Very Good. 5-1/2" x 3". Five unused divided-back postcards. White cardstock illustrated in halftone from photographs to recto. Light wear and some soiling/staining; scuff to one card, slightly affecting image. An set of begging cards depicting the treatment of Alonzo Souslin for a broken neck, including pictures of his wife and young son and his address at the base of each card. The cards are titled as follows: "As Removed from Miami Valley Hospital to Wife and Baby," with an image showing Souslin in a full torso and head cast; "A Warm Back," showing Souslin in a back, neck and head brace; "Their Only Support," showing Souslin in the brace beside his wife and son; "As I Will Have to Go," showing Souslin in the brace and wearing a suit; and "Will Papa Ever Be Able to Buy Me Any More Toys?" showing Souslin's 2-year-old son, Marion, with a few scattered toys as props.According to the cards, Souslin had his neck broken on October 23, 1906, while he was decorating the new N.C.R. building in Dayton, Ohio; he "[w]as stooped over in the act of removing rubbish, plank fell striking edgewise on back of neck." City directories appear to confirm this, as Souslin is listed as a painter until 1906, followed by a few years when no occupation is listed; in 1909 and 1910 his occupation is "postcards" and he later became a travelling salesman.