Private company

Detroit Publishing Co.

Logo: Detroit Publishing Company, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

US photographic publisher

The Detroit Publishing Company was an American photographic publishing firm best known for its large assortment of photochrom color postcards.2 It ceased to exist in 1932.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1890Founded1
  • HeadquartersDetroit1
NYC Mulberry Street 3g04637u
Photo: Detroit Publishing Co. (w) , publisher., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons5

The Detroit Publishing Company was an American photographic publishing firm best known for its large assortment of photochrom color postcards.2

The story

The Detroit Publishing Company was started by publisher William A. Livingstone and photographer Edwin H. Husher in the late 19th century as the Detroit Photographic Company, it later became The Detroit Photochrom Company, and it was not until 1905 that the company called itself the Detroit Publishing Company.

The company acquired rights to a color printing process developed by Hans Jakob Schmid of Orell Fussli & Company of Switzerland called Photochrom. Photochrom allowed for the company to mass market postcards and other materials in color. The Detroit Publishing Company started to market this in 1907 under the name "photostint".

By the time of World War I, the company faced declining sales both due to the war economy and the competition from cheaper, more advanced printing methods. The company declared bankruptcy in 1924 and was liquidated in 1932.

William Henry Jackson

The best-known photographer for the company was William Henry Jackson, who joined the company in 1897. He became the plant manager in 1903.

From Wikipedia’s article on Detroit Publishing Company, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Timeline

  1. 1932Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1890Founded Founded1