Trade cards typically had a picture on one side and an ad on the other. There were custom cards printed for specific products, and stock cards which could be used for any product. Trade cards were popular for medicines, sewing, and farm equipment, and a range of other products. Some rare Victorian trade cards are now worth thousands of dollars, for example cards advertising Clipper Ships traveling from the East Coast to California in the 1860s.
 Clothing+ Fashion |  Jewelry +Watches |  Home +Furniture |  Pottery + Glass |  Art +Photos |  Paper +Books |  Music +Movies |  Toys +Games |  Sports +Outdoors |  Ads +Signs |  Eras +Themes |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victorian trade cards are an early form of collectible advertising. Popularized after the Civil War by businesses, they offer a colorful and diverse look at popular culture and society in the late 1800s.
Trade cards originated in England in the 1700s with tradesmen advertising their wares. But...
▼ Expand to read the full article ▼
Show & Tell - Share Your Stuff!
TRADE CARDS
3 people like/love this
by Savoychina1 on May. 22, 2012
Victorian Advertising Trading Cards- …
5 people like/love this
by Dizzydave on May. 22, 2012
» See all trade cards Show & Tells
Interviews & Articles
An Interview With Victorian Trade Card Collector Ben Crane
How did I start collecting Victorian trade cards? In the late 60s I was a bottle collector, early American bottles and flasks. I s… [more]
Some Trade Cards and Broadsides
American advertising has always told a rousing story. What people had and what they could acquire. From the first issue of the Bos… [more]
An Interview With Antique Advertising and Porcelain Sign Collector Alex Renshaw
How did I get started collecting advertising antiques? My dad was a lecturer and tutor in graphics and art from the 1960s onwards,… [more]
An Interview With Porcelain Advertising Sign Collector Michael Bruner
I liked to collect things even as a child. Things that didn’t cost anything, like different colors of stones. There was somethin… [more]
An Interview With Baseball Card Collector Dave Campbell
Dave Campbell contacted me after reading a post on The Baseball Card blog. He's been collecting baseball cards non-stop since 1981… [more]
The Force of Collecting Star Wars Cards
I was 10 when the movie came out and I went to the store and bought a couple of packs of Star Wars cards. But I ended up trashing … [more]
Hitting a Home Run with Baseball Cards
I started collecting in 1986. If you’re in Boston and you’re a baseball fan, the Red Sox may take over your life. They take over y… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
Trade Card Place
Ben Crane's excellent reference site on Victorian trade cards. Includes a scrapbook containing hundreds of beautifu… [read review or visit site]
The Scrap Album
Attention paper collectors: don't miss Malcolm Warrington's exquisitely designed tribute to Victorian scraps (stamp… [read review or visit site]
Ephemera Blog
Marty Weil's wide-ranging, in-depth blog on ephemera, including lots of great interviews with ephemera collectors. … [read review or visit site]
Advertising Antiques
This classy looking British site features hundreds of high resolution photos of antique porcelain pre-war (enamel) … [read review or visit site]
Non Sports Cards: Tobacco, Gum and Candy
Tom Boblitt moderates this extremely deep, collaborative site dedicated to non-sports cards (tobacco, gum and candy… [read review or visit site]
Ephemera Society of America
Great reference on ephemera... includes examples and descriptions of various ephemera categories, selected special … [read review or visit site]
Ad Access
Duke University's library has pulled together an impressive collection of over 7,000 ads printed in U.S. and Canadi… [read review or visit site]
Plan 59
From the Nostlagia Factory in Virginia comes this celebration of 'mid-century automotive advertising illustrations'… [read review or visit site]
Stevengraphs Bookmarks and Postcards
Malcolm Roebuck's tribute to the ornate silk picture bookmarks and postcards ('Stevengraphs') produced by Thomas St… [read review or visit site]
American Package Museum
Ian House's gallery of early 20th Century American package designs. Browse the exhibits in slide show mode or view … [read review or visit site]
Found in Moms Basement
Paula Zargaj-Reynolds’ blog, an extensive collection of 20th century vintage advertising, is a visual feast. Scro… [read review or visit site]
Truth in Advertising
This gallery of cigarette magazine advertising from the 1940s and 50s contains no surgeon general's warning, just p… [read review or visit site]
Clubs & Associations: Cards
Other Great Reference Sites: Cards
- Victorian Trade Card Collection
- Online Picture Card Museum
- Wisconsin Historical Images: Trade Cards
- Baker Library Historical Collections
- The Cartophilic Society of Great Britain
- Albums by Exhibitman
- Duke Library: Emergence of Advertising in America
- Oxford Library: John Johnson Collection Exhibition
- Library of Congress Broadsides and Ephemera
- Duke Library: Presidential Campaign Memorabilia
- Coca-Cola Old Ads
- Library of Congress: Coca-Cola Ads
- Street Jewellery
Top eBay Auctions
Huge Lot Victorian Trade Cards In Ornate Album W Babies 400+ Cards / Lithos 189
Trade Card Lot 500 Cards All With Advertising All In Great Condition
2011 Famous Fabrics Inc. Horrors Of War World Trade Center Card No. 45 Base 
Daily Mirror Milk Hero Swap Cards Set/80 + Prize Card Trade Cards Inc. Bradman
14 Antique Victorian 19thc *currier & Ives* Black Americana Trade Cards *nr*
Victorian Trade Cards Scrapbook Album Postcards Die Cuts Holiday 262 Pieces Nr
1882 Victorian Comedy Trade Card Owl Set German Hop Bitters Sherwood Mi
1880 Presidential Election - 2 Rebus Puzzle Trade Cards - Garfield & Hancock
Lucky Horoscope Vending Machine Fortune Teller Casino Trade Stimulator W/cards
Lion Coffee Die Cuts Advertising Paper Dolls Lot Of 48 Trade Cards
Ardmona Big League Series 2 1982 St Kilda Set Trade Cards
Antique Early Scrapbook Loaded Birds Christmas Tree & Santas Trade Animals 28p
2012 Upper Deck Super Rare #nno Qb Draft Trade Card--andrew Luck Auto??
Tc553, Belding Bros & Co Life Saving Service, Cannon
1800's Adam Forepaugh's Wild West Show Trade Card "the Death Of Custer"
2010-11 Absolute Tools Of The Trade Joakim Noah 3 Color Game Used Auto Card 6/10
1800's Indianapolis In Haas Remedy Adv Trade Card Pig Fantasy Rr Depot Hjh327
3885 Merchant’s Gargling Oil Over-sized Trade Card Sultan Turkey Veterinary 
Antique 1880's-90's Victorian Scrapbook Die Cuts Trade Cards Rr Bitters Ads Etc.
2012 Upper Deck Trade Card: Andrew Luck ...rg3????? Colts Redskins
Vintage Old Many Victorian Trade Card Album Lafayette Indiana Hoods Safe Cure
2012 Upper Deck Football Qb Trade Card - Luck Rg3 ?
2012 Upper Deck...trade Upper Deck Card. Andrew Luck/robert Grinnin Iii?
1884 Rare Patent Applied For Trade Card Presidential Campaign Blaine Cleveland
Singer Sewing Commemorative Tape Measure With Box 1851-1951 Vintage--rare
50 Pc Trading Pin Lot New On Card Only Authentic Disney Keep Some Trade Some 
Antique Lot Of 100+ Arm & Hammer Victorian Trade Advertising Cards L@@k!!!
40 Pc Trading Pin Lot New On Card Only Authentic Disney Keep Some Trade Some 
40 Pc Trading Pin Lot New On Card Only Authentic Disney Keep Some Trade Some 
Rare 1932 Shasta Ca Water Trade Card - Anti-prohibition - Vineyards & Hopfields
Antique Early Victorian Scrap Book Flowers Cats Girls Trade 29pg 
Antique Ad Trade Card Pug Dog Conducting Orchestra Lion Coffee Premium
1880s Fairbanks And Cole Banjos Folding Trade Card - Boston Banjo Concert Co.
Big Lot 75 Colorful Victorian Trade Cards + Freebies 
9 Antique Boxing 1910 Mecca Cigarettes Champion Athlete & Prize Fighter Cards
Rare Vindicator Cooking Stove Trade Card Family Scene Geo Phillips Co Troy, Ny
1940s Duffy's Tavern Trade Card - Key West Florida Fl
Weight Ticket Cards Film & Radio Stars Rb33 Handbook Section A2-2.b Trade Cards
2012 Upper Deck Trade Card 1st Round Draft Pick Trade Card!! Luck Or Griffin??
Pyramid Pin Company 1876 Centennial Trade Card 
Victorian Trade Card Lot
Lion Coffee Die Cut Advertising Booklet*woolson Spice Company*toledo Ohio
Large Antique Victorian Trade Card Album.pictures,civil War Newspaper Clippings
1888-1930 Vintage Tobacco & Trade Cards Collection Us & British 80 Cards
Die Cut Coffee Cup Adv Trade Card Folder, 1893 Expo Chase & Sanborn 
Trade Card Syracuse Ny Leiter Bros Jewelry Store Boss Watch Cases *751
Trade Cards Vintage Lot 25 Late 1800's
3860 E. W. Hoyt Co. Perfume 1895 Calendar Trade Card Boys Toy Sailboats Dental
Antique Victorian Die Cut Calling Cards Sample Paper Book Ohio Card Co
Channel 4 Cheerleader All Time Great Quarterbacks Trade Cards 1989 Mint Cat £30
David City, Ne Nebraska 1891 Advertising Victorian Trade Card Butler County Fair
Don Mattingly Tools Of The Trade Game Used Card
Tc202, Eureka Corsets, C M Boyton, Concord, Nh
Tc723, Borden's Evaporated Cream, Girl With Cats, Witch Hat? Victoran Trade Card
Lynn, Mass Library Souvenir Signed China Plate
Useful Birds Of America Arm & Hammer Church & Dwight Co. 1922 Third Series Set
Rare—uncle Sam & Columbia Hygienic Kalsomine Trade Card
Antique Larkin Buffalo Ny Creme Oat Meal Meal Toilet Soap Monkey Marriage 1881
Arm & Hammer Beautiful/handsome Birds Collectible Soap 12 Soap Box Cards Vgc
Trade Card, Edison Phonograph, C 1900
Cards
- overview
- trade cards
- playing cards
- tobacco cards
- greeting cards
- Mutoscope cards
- baseball cards
- football cards
- hockey cards
- basketball cards
- wax packs
- lobby cards
- cartes-de-visites
- Valentine cards
Victorian Era
- overview
- trade cards
- Victorian furniture
- Victorian lamps
- Victorian womens clothing
- Victorian and Edwardian hats
- hatpins
- Victorian and Edwardian jewelry
- lockets
- cameos
