Julius Saul, clothier of Troy

The Biggert Collection has preserved this custom commercial envelope from the firm of Julius Saul, depicting his building at 326 River Street in Troy (probably the Atrium parking garage today). Saul was born in Posen, a province of Prussia around 1835 and came to America in his youth. He opened stores in Hudson and Catskill, and then came to Troy in 1867.

Weise’s 1888 “City of Troy and Its Vicinity” says: “At the large clothing house of Julius Saul, any one can be convinced that the greater number of the male inhabitants of Troy buy their clothing ready-made. The attractive, four-story, brick building extends 150 feet to Fourth Street. The spacious sale-room on the first floor is stocked with seasonable coats, vests, and trousers to supply the numerous customers which the popularity of this well-known clothing house attracts. The custom department is on the second floor, where patterns may be selected from the stock of cloths and other stuffs to be made into such fashionable styles as may be desired . . . To obtain all the advantages of a prosperous clothing manufacturing house, he removed his manufactory from Troy to New York, where he has recently established one of the largest manufactories in the metropolis.” He retired from the business in 1895, living at 401 West End Avenue in New York City, and spent the remainder of his life traveling with his wife and, once she died, a daughter. He died December 15, 1914, and his obituary appeared in the New York Times.

Weise’s book used the same cut as appeared on the envelope, so I’ve presented a clearer version here. A Google search will turn up numerous Julius Saul trade cards.