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| Trade Card Advertising for W. J. Austen & Company, Proprietors, Oswego New York | 19th Century Advertising Trade Card Index | Trade Card Advertising for the Hartford Chemical Company, Hartford Connecticut" |
| Featured Trade Card | Featured Trade Card |
| Clothing & Footwear | Confections, Spices, Tea, etc. | Laundry & Bath | Medicine (Balsams, Liniments, Bitters, etc.) | Perfumes & Colognes | Services & Other Products | Sewing Products |
Art of The Print: 19th Century Advertising Trade Cards: Although the advertisement of products and services was active long before the 19th century, it wasn't until the second half of the 19th century, that companies and businesses realized the importance of promoting their products in order to better compete with the growing market, thus advertising became one of the most potent selling tools to date. 'Trade Cards' were used to advertise all kinds of products and services. The advertising artists went to great lengths in order to create images with sophisticated, decorative and colorful designs that would entice the public to purchase the advertised products. Not unlike today, they employed fantasy, education, comedy, and even satire to best represent the merchandise and services offered. 'Trade Cards' came in various sizes, shapes and colors, and most often depicted beautiful women, cute children, animals, flowers and landscapes, however, many other types of images were part of their wonderful selection. As antique art, advertisements such as these original examples reflect the true tastes and desires of the times. Our Gallery, Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com offers a wide selection of international fine art. We sell original paintings, watercolors, drawings, monotypes, engravings, etchings, lithographs and other mediums of original graphic art. The works of art in our gallery date from the Renaissance period to the contemporary art period. We guarantee the authenticity of every work of art 100%. Full documentation and certification is provided.
Chromolithography -- printing images by using a series of carefully registered tint stones -- became the most popular method for the original print-making of everything from miniatures to large posters during the last half of the nineteenth century. The far less costly advances of photomechanical methods, however, made this original and complex form of art all but obsolete by the early twentieth century. The following selection provides a list of some of the most artistic and creative American firms that produced chromolithographic cards during the second half of the 19th century. They include the New York firms of Hatch Lithographic Company, Donaldson Brothers, Major & Knapp Company, the American Lithographic Company, G. H. Dunston Lithographic Co., Gies & Company, G. Hounston Co., Lanman & Kemp Company, Mayer, Merkel & Ottmann Lith., Bufford's Sons, (Boston and New York), and firms like Forbes Company, Boston, Louis Prang, Boston, E. W. Hoyt and Company, Lowell, Massachusetts, Ketterlinus Company, Philadelphia, and the Sunshine Publishing Co., Philadelphia. Printers and publisher often included informative literature describing the products, and services on the back side of the trade cards. The prospective buyer could find prices, the location of the business, marketing and promotional data, lists of other inventory sold by the firms and even how to instructions. Most companies also included their business address and name as well as the product name, along with a catchy slogan on the front side of these cards.
The subjects and categories chosen to illustrate and promote the merchandise and services were endless. Much like today, advertisers employed marketing strategies that embraced the needs or desires of people. Fantasy, comedy, satire, education, politics, and even religion were subjects often manipulated to best represent their merchandise and services. For example, representations of the most common holidays were powerful incentives to make the public spend their hard earned cash. So, just before each upcoming festivity, trade cards with images of toys, gifts, necessities, and selected decorations for Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and any other celebration that was to take place within the near future were set up in shops or delivered to potential customers to remind them they had to buy (their) indispensable merchandise. Trade cards depicted portraits of many famous and infamous people. They featured royalty, politicians, bankers, heroes, sports players, as well as acrobats, magicians, actors portraying different characters in theatrical plays, crooks and bandits, and just about anyone who might peak the public's curiosity. The American and European landscapes, city views and town views illustrated in these cards also captured the public's imagination. There were sports cards depicting a variety of team sports and individual sporting activities like, roller skating, football, baseball, rugby, tennis, golf, sledding, skiing, horse racing, sailing, rowing and even sports we know nothing about today. Trade cards were often a primary means of marketing used by both the medical profession and snake-oil vendors, 'Quacks', offering their services to those in need. They advertised an assortment of surgical and dental instruments and gadgets and offered health products that promoted remedies for humans and animals. Claiming to cure all types of ailments and mental issues if they consumed their liniments, creams, ointments, tonics, bitters, pills and a variety of other unlikely concoctions. Some of these remedies were effective and helpful treatments, but others were questionable and dangerous. Unfortunately, the mortality rate caused by some of the so called magical cures and remedies seldom came to light. On another, but happier note, cards made for specific attractions and exhibitions were also distributed to motivate people to attend the coming events. Along with many of the other subjects mentioned here, this particular category is highly collectible and a favorite of many collectors, it includes circus art, carnival art, fairs and exhibition memorabilia. They depict clowns, trained and exotic animals of all kinds and sizes, acrobats, freaks and weird characters, thrilling new rides, exhibition buildings, special exhibits with foreign foods, floral gardens and arrangements, competitions, displays for the best and newest inventions and many other exciting attractions were marketed in this manner. And, lastly, but not all, the industrial revolution played an important role in the advancement of the advertising world. Advertising flourished in this environment, it worked with large companies and corporations, promoting locomotives, automobiles, airplanes, ships, and other forms of transportation that in turn, benefited the travel industry. The industrial revolution was also responsible for the creation of large machinery that was used to manufacture goods in factories much faster than ever. Now, consumers could look forward to buying needless merchandise at a lower cost. There were more products than buyers with money and the competition was merciless. Small business were struggling to keep up and had no option but to fight back by joining the big marketing machine. This trend would continue into the present century.
'Trade Cards' and Labels' were the popular choice of advertising due to their beautiful and decorative styles and small size. Unlike other methods of advertising, often discarded and destroyed, people actually collected these cards and labels, often keeping them in scrapbooks. This meant that this type of advertisement had a much longer and more profitable effect. All they needed was to send a message, so good and so irresistible, it would create the perfect buyer. There were mechanical bank trade cards luring people to save and deposit their money into their banks. There were cards for food products, such as cereals, meats, canned foods, soda pop, coffee, sweets and a variety of different types of groceries (both local and imported). According to some of their ads, their food provided far better nourishment for their customers. The small specialized shops and department stores also offered items of clothing, such as, shoes, dresses, pants, shirts, hats, coats, etc. There were toiletries like perfumes, colognes and soaps which were not only useful, but great gift ideas as well as being a great lure for the opposite sex. Other items included clocks, watches, firearms and toys. Their household goods included such items as dishes, canisters, silverware, pots, kettles, umbrellas, thread, pins and needles, cleaning supplies, soaps, brushes and buckets. They also advertised tools, large appliances, machinery and other items that reduced the time spent doing chores, like their new sewing machines, stoves, and their gardening tools, rakes, shovels and lawn mowers of all types and sizes and, anything else one could not live without. Of course, advertisers could not afford exclude three of the most controversial products ever offered for sale. They became some of the most lucrative products on the market, cigars, cigarettes and liquor.
We provide search links to different Categories ranging from old master engravings and original fine art to speciality collecting such as animals, botanicals, genre, maps, military art, posters and advertising, satirical art, sports and many other interests. You can also link to pages focused on the century you prefer or by the artists' nationalities.
The Trade Card index is set up in alphabetical order by the Advertising company promoting the products. To view the full information and the larger images pertaining to these original works of art, please click on the (Title & Artist) section
| Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com - 19th Century Advertising Trade Cards | ||||||
| Clothing & Footwear | Confections, Spices, Tea, etc. | Laundry & Bath | Medicine (Balsams, Liniments, Bitters, etc.) | Perfumes & Colognes | Services & Other Products | Sewing Products |
| Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com - 19th Century Advertising Trade Cards | ||||||
| Clothing & Footwear | Confections, Spices, Tea, etc. | Laundry & Bath | Medicine (Balsams, Liniments, Bitters, etc.) | Perfumes & Colognes | Services & Other Products | Sewing Products |
| Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com - 19th Century Advertising Trade Cards | ||||||
| Clothing & Footwear | Confections, Spices, Tea, etc. | Laundry & Bath | Medicine (Balsams, Liniments, Bitters, etc.) | Perfumes & Colognes | Services & Other Products | Sewing Products |
| Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com - 19th Century Advertising Trade Cards | ||||||
| Clothing & Footwear | Confections, Spices, Tea, etc. | Laundry & Bath | Medicine (Balsams, Liniments, Bitters, etc.) | Perfumes & Colognes | Services & Other Products | Sewing Products |
| 19th century Advertising Trade Cards: Medicine (Balsams, Liniments, Creams, Ointments, Syrups, Tonics, Bitters, Pills etc.) | ||||||
| # | Image | Advertiser & Description | Medium | Date | Notes | - |
| 01.- |  |
Trade Card Advertiser: Dr. J. Melvin Company, Woburn, Massachusetts, Use Melvin's Nerve Liniment Prepared by Dr. J. Melvin Co. (A Crane and a Bulldog dressed as Humans) | Original Chromolithograph | 1879 | Nerve Liniment | Sold |
| 02.- | Trade Card Advertiser: The Lawrence-Williams Company, Cleveland, Ohio, Try Gombault's Caustic Balsam: Gombault's Veterinary Medicines Co., NY (Harness Racer) | Original Chromolithograph | c. 1875 | Caustic Balsam | Sold | |
| 03.- | Trade Card Advertiser: Sachs-Pruden & Co., Dayton, Ohio), Sach-Pruden's A. T. 8 Agaric Tonic, Torrid Zone and Frigid Zone (Women, Personifications of Climate Change) | Set of Two Original Chromolithographs | 1870 | Agaric Tonic | Sold | |
| Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com - 19th Century Advertising Trade Cards | ||||||
| Clothing & Footwear | Confections, Spices, Tea, etc. | Laundry & Bath | Medicine (Balsams, Liniments, Bitters, etc.) | Perfumes & Colognes | Services & Other Products | Sewing Products |
| Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com - 19th Century Advertising Trade Cards | ||||||
| Clothing & Footwear | Confections, Spices, Tea, etc. | Laundry & Bath | Medicine (Balsams, Liniments, Bitters, etc.) | Perfumes & Colognes | Services & Other Products | Sewing Products |
| Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com - 19th Century Advertising Trade Cards | ||||||
| Clothing & Footwear | Confections, Spices, Tea, etc. | Laundry & Bath | Medicine (Balsams, Liniments, Bitters, etc.) | Perfumes & Colognes | Services & Other Products | Sewing Products |
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19th Century Advertising Trade Card Image Gallery Directory: Thumbnails of all our original chromolithographic trade cards with links to the larger images and a full description. | The trade card (image) directory contains the thumbnail images of all our Victorian trade cards with links to the larger images and a full description. These 19th century cards advertise products for American, Canadian, & European firms. The subjects and categories chosen to illustrate and promote the merchandise and services were endless. Much like today, advertisers employed marketing strategies that embraced the needs or desires of people. These firms include, Acme Soap Company, B. T. Babbitt’s Best Soap, Barker, E. Canby's Silver Star Baking Powder, Griswold & Co., Boston Clothing House, Clark’s Cotton Company, Diamond Dyes Co., Dr. J. Melvin Co., E. W. Hoyt & Co., Fleming Brothers, Gombault’s Veterinary Medicines Company, Hartford Chemical Company, I. H. Dewey, Furniture Emporium, J. & P. Coats Company, J. H. Bufford's Sons, J. J. Brueck, J. M. Childs & Co., Grain Drills, Jas. Chadwick & Brothers, Jas S. Kirk & Co., John F. Linsin, John Hancock Insurance Company, Lautz Brothers & Co., Le Boutillier Brothers, Morse Soap Works, Murray & Lanman’s Florida Water, Gold Medal Sewing Machine Co., New Home Sewing Machine Co., Niagara Starch Works, 'Wesp, Lautz Brothers & Co., Reynolds Brothers Fine Shoes, Sachs-Pruden & Co., Stimson’s Sudsena Washing Powder, The Boston Hat and Fur Store, The Gouverneur Machine Company, The Mayer Company, The New York Tea Co., Buffalo, New York , W. J. Austin & Co. and the Woolson Spice Co. & others. |
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You can also search www.artoftheprint.com by category to help you find information.
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For speciality collectors (Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com) provides directories that contain listings for different art categories ranging from the Renaissance period to our contemporary art period. You can search for works of art via the nationality of the artist or by century. If you are looking for a particular subject in the visual arts, such as depictions of animals, children, landscapes, flowers, religion, or other interesting topics, the following list may be of some help.
Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com sells international fine art. Our collection consists of original paintings, watercolors, drawings, and prints, such as etchings, line engravings, lithographs, aquatints, mezzotints, woodcuts, wood engravings, silk-screens, monoprints, monotypes and other mediums of original art. All of these works of art have been created by prominent and established artists, (painters, illustrators, and printmakers). Their nationalities vary from American to British, Canadian, Czechoslovakian, Dutch, Flemish, French, German, Italian, Mexican, Austrian, Belgium, Israeli, Danish, and Japanese, as well as artists from other countries. The collected works span from the early Renaissance period to the modern and contemporary art period. You can find categories ranging from original fine art to speciality collecting such as animal art, botanical art, genre, portraits, maps, military art, lithographic posters and advertising art, satirical art, sports art and many other areas of interest.
The artist biographies, research and or information pertaining to all the original works of art posted on our pages has been written and designed by Greg & Connie Peters exclusively for our site, (www.artoftheprint.com). Please visit us regularly to view the latest artworks offered for sale. We will soon be posting an update of our most recent research and include the biographical and historical information pertaining to our next collection of original works of art created by artists throughout the centuries. We hope you found the information you were looking for and that it has been beneficial.
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phone Greg & Connie (905) 957-6666
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