Stude's Coffee Parlor Houston Owney tag

This is one of two tokens Owney received from Alphonse Stude’s Houston, Texas, bakery. Stude, a prominent Houston businessman and city booster, recognized the advertising potential of the traveling dog. Usually Owney’s arrival to a town was heralded in the local newspaper and the articles about his welcome often listed the tokens he was wearing. This token, which could be used in trade for a cup of coffee, is known as a trade check. These tokens were used much as coupons are today, offered by merchants as a lure to increase customers’ purchases.