Victorian Trade Cards

First let me start by saying I am no expert in the area of Victorian Trade Cards BUT I have learned quite a bit in the last few years. Finding information hasn't always been easy so I wanted to share what I've learned and point you in the right direction if you need to find out more.

I first became interested in these little pieces of art and history about 5 years ago. My parents were antique dealers so I grew up surrounded by antiques. When they passed away I was left with a large inventory of items, including a lot of ephemera. Most of the larger antiques found homes with me or my sisters but the paper goods were left orphaned. Around the same time I wanted to start a business which would allow me to stay home with my children so along came ebay. Since I already had a large inventory of trade cards, that seemed like the logical place to begin. And so the love affair began. Now the cards are orphans no more. Through my Rubylane store they find new homes around the world with caring collectors who will cherish them as I have.

http://www.rubylane.com/shops/sweetsuccessantiques

I suppose every collector has their own reasons for loving these cards. There are a zillion categories and people collect for all sorts of reasons. Some collect a certain animal, some a certain product, some a particular manufacturer, some a specific town. There are collectors of puzzle cards, mechanical cards, diecut cards. If you can think of it you can probably find someone who looks for that type of card. My interest lies in the stories they tell. Growing up surrounded by antiques I always loved history. Particularly American history and most particularly the Victorian era. Victorian Trade Cards are like a window into the past. They send me back in time and help put the antiques I grew up surrounded by into context. I can actually see the organ in the parlor and the sewing machine being used for more than a plant stand. Not to mention some of the images are just drop dead gorgeous or hysterically funny.

Victorian Trade Cards were a popular collectible for the victorian family from around 1875 through the very early 1900's. It seems that the real birthday of the color Victorian Trade Card was the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876.

Thereafter they used by local merchants as an inexpensive way to advertise their products. They were mailed, passed out in the streets, included in bags and packages and given out within the store.

Advances in the printing trade during the early period of trade cards also contributed to their popularity. The process of chromolithography which was the ability to print a full spectrum of color literally upon stones led to the creation of some absolutely stunning images. Some trade cards were beautiful, some humorous, some were puzzles, and some were risque. There were also mechanical cards which moved, diecut cards and hold to light cards where the image would change when the card was held to the light. Victorian families would collect the cards that appealed to them and paste them into scrap books.

Tradecards are a great way to see the advertising, history, and culture which accompanied the proclaimed product/service. Many products sold in bottles used tradecards to promote the product.

Trade cards can be classified into two types:

* stock: by far the most commonly found. These cards were generic so they could be applied to any product. The backs were typically blank or the bottoms had blank space so they could be customized for the advertiser.

* custom: are less common and typically more desirable. They were created for specific companies. These cards often picture the product being advertised.