Cards depicting horseback riding, horse drawn carriages, China, a boy delivering a letter, a couple missing the train, a figure riding a turkey and a dog and children with baskets by telephone poles.
Summary
Public domain photograph of American trade card, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Trade cards were one of the most prevalent forms of advertising in the U.S. from around 1875 to 1900. They had their origin in England in the 1700s with tradesmen advertising their wares. The advent of lithography in the 1870s made it possible to mass-produce them in color. The Philadelphia 1876 Centennial Exhibition sparked the beginning, as many were passed out at that event.
Tags
Date
1876 - 1890
Source
New York Public Library
Copyright info
Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication ("CCO 1.0 Dedication")