Bold typography and a prowling black cat dominate this business card for “The 13 Flying Black Cats,” selling a brand built on speed, spectacle, and a wink of superstition. The oversized “13” anchors the design while the slogan below—“If a black cat can’t do it, it can’t be done”—turns a supposed omen into a promise of confidence. Even at a glance, the card reads like a miniature poster, engineered to be remembered in a crowded world of touring thrills.
Across the top, the claim “WILL DO ANYTHING” leads into the word “STUNTS” in commanding letters, followed by a menu of daredevil feats that spans parachute jumps, ship changes, upside-down flying, delayed openings, rope ladder work, wing walking, and more. References to airplanes, motorcycles, and automobiles reflect an era fascinated by machines and risk, when air shows and speed exhibitions blurred the line between sport and entertainment. The phrasing is pure showmanship, meant to convince promoters and audiences alike that no challenge was too extreme.
Names printed on the card—Art Goebel, Bon MacDougall, Heard McClellan—sit alongside Cross Aerial Photo Service, hinting at the network of pilots, performers, and documentation that helped turn fleeting acts into lasting publicity. As an artifact of aviation culture and early marketing, it offers a snapshot of how aerial stunt teams branded themselves long before social media, relying on crisp design, audacious copy, and a touch of myth. For readers interested in 1920s air show history, barnstorming, and vintage ephemera, this piece packs an entire world of adrenaline into a pocket-sized keepsake.