My great aunt Jenny collected these Victorian era Advertising cards and gifted them to me before she died in the 1980's. We just recently scanned them and I wanted to share a few of them here.
Jenny was my Grandpa Clyde's sister. She lived in Los Angeles and although we never met, she and I exchanged letters and she told me many treasured old family stories.
Victorian trade cards were published by a wide array of lithographic firms. Various businesses commissioned these cards from printing companies to advertise their goods and services and in an era when most images were still black and white they became quite popular collectables.
During the late 19th century, .any business that wanted to advertise could contract with a lithographic printing company to design and produce custom trade cards for distribution to their customers.
The same image could be chosen by various businesses and customized with their message to their customers.
They were distributed free at stores, placed on sales counters, handed out at fairs and expositions and even passed out on the streets. Victorians became collectors of these cards, often compiling them into scrapbooks.
The popularity of these miniature art works began to wane as magazine advertising became more prevalent at the turn of the century.
The image is an old advertisement for the "Eclipse Lawn Mower Co." located in Prophetstown, Ill.
On the left, there's an illustration of a woman with curly blonde hair.
On the right side, the text reads:
"We Save You Money
ALL THE TIME
And Give You Satisfaction
EVERY TIME"
Below this, in a larger font, it states:
"ECLIPSE LAWN MOWER CO.
PROPHETSTOWN, ILL."
There is a faint, circular imprint near the bottom that says "DANSON'S STORE" and possibly an address like "1023 SO. LOMBARD". A number "242" is visible in the bottom left corner.
The text reads:
"Another Million Population
on the way to trade at
HURD'S
Biggest Little Drug Store
on Earth
Where Los Angeles Meets Belvedere
Straight out Whittier
R. C. HURD, Druggist
3743 Whittier Boulevard
Los Angeles, Cal."
This image is an advertisement for "TRIUMPH Tomato Catsup" by Meyer Bain M'F'G CO., ST. LOUIS.
When searching online I found this same image being used to advertise ointment, furniture and chocolates, among other things
"GOING TO THE SEWING SOCIETY WITH WILLIMANTIC THREAD."
(Back of the Card):
"WILLIMANTIC THE BEST THREAD FOR SEWING MACHINES."
"We have thoroughly tested the Willimantic New Six Cord, Soft Finish Spool Cotton, and find it superior to any other in the market, and cheerfully recommend it to the agents, purchasers, and users of all Sewing Machines. "Wheeler & Wilson Machine," "Domestic Sewing Machine," "Home Sewing Machine
"SIXTY-ONE YEARS IN MARKET!
The Oldest, The Best, The Neatest, The Quickest.
SIZE DOUBLED; QUALITY THE SAME."
The illustration of the products packaging reads "DIXON'S PREPARED CARBURET OF IRON (TRADE MARK) FOR POLISHING Stoves, Grates, Railings AND EVERY KIND OF Cast and Sheet Iron Work."
Below this, it says: "Remember Size is Doubled and Quality kept the same. Ask your Dealer for the BIG CAKE. JOS. DIXON CRUCIBLE CO., JERSEY CITY, N. J."
Victorian trade cards were more than just advertisements; they were miniature works of art and social commentaries that played a role in consumer culture.
I have more advertising cards and also greeting cards from the same era that I will save to post in the future
