Title

Ladies' Boots

Count

2

Maker's Mark

Logo on the bottom of the soles and a stamp inside the right boot.

Description

A pair of tall brown leather boots for women. They have lace up fronts and high heels. A gold stamp inside reads: W. L. Douglas $12.00.
According to Wikipedia, William L. Douglas borrowed $875 in 1876 in order to open his own shoe factory. One critical decision he made in establishing the business was that he would sell the shoes he manufactured through his own line of retail outlets, rather than shipping them to other retailers or intermediaries. His business grew rapidly: every few years the factory's output doubled, and by 1892 he was making 3,600 shoes per day. By the early 1900s his factory was the largest shoe manufactory in the world. The retail side of the business also grew: the first store opened in 1894, and by 1900 there were 55 stores nationwide.
Douglas was one of the first shoe manufacturers to widely advertise his products. He stamped the soles of his shoes with his own image, making it one of the most recognized likenesses of the time.[One period writer believed Douglas was likely the most widely recognized figure in the state of Massachusetts. He served as Governor of Massachusetts from 1905-1906.