Advertising Trade Cards

"Fairbank's Fairy Soap. Unequaled for toilet, bath, and fine laundry use. The Strobridge Lith. Co., Cin., O. Copyright 1898, the N. K. Fairbank Company, Chicago." According to Wikipedia's N. K. Fairbank article, "Nathaniel Kellogg 'N. K.' Fairbank (1829-1903) was a Chicago industrialist whose company, the N. K. Fairbank Co., manufactured soap as well as animal and baking products.... [The company's] Gold Dust Washing Powder ... was one of the most successful cleansing product lines in twentieth century North America. Another original Fairbank creation, Fairy Soap, was purchased by Procter & Gamble and remains one of the best-known European household brands." The ships on the trade card probably depict battleships used during the Spanish-American War, which began in 1898.

"Don't forget to call at headquarters for overcoats, Leinbach & Bro., Cor, 8th and Penn Streets, [Reading, Pa.]."

See also Pennsylvania Railroad, Hess and Flinn's Station, 1882 . "Hess & Flinn, dealers in all kinds of household furniture. Warerooms--No. 150 North Queen Street, over Flinn & Wilson's Store, Lancaster, Pa. Goods of every description received and sold on commission."

"Pennsylvania Rail Road, Lancaster Division, 1882. Pass ________. To Hess & Flinn's Station, the cheapest furniture and upholstery house in the city. No. 148-150 North Queen St., Lancaster, Pa. Hess & Flinn." This advertising trade card is a clever parody of a railroad pass (for examples of the real thing, see below for Pennsylvania Railroad Company Pass, 1908 and Pennsylvania Railroad Company Pass, 1909 ). Instead of authorizing travel over a railroad line, however, it invited potential customers to visit Hess & Flinn's furniture store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, during the year 1882. For another Hess & Flinn trade card, see Hess and Flinn, Dealers in All Kinds of Household Furniture, Lancaster, Pa. (below).

"U. W. Myers, drilling manager, artesian well driller, Myerstown, Pa." For a similar business card, see William C. Myers, Practical Artesian Well Contractor, Salunga, Pa.

"Lewis Kramer (successor to S. H. Bucher). Practical blacksmithing and horseshoeing. Repairing of wagons and machinery. Rear 332 Chestnut St., Pottstown, Pa."

"Best Boiler Works, Lancaster, Pa., manufactory of steam boilers, water & oil tanks, stills, bellows, pipes, & sheet iron work in general. Jobbing promptly & carefully attended to. John Best, proprietor. Mc.Clement, Phila." For information about cameo cards like this, see José L. Rodriguez's article on Cameo Makers . For similar cards, see Eagle Marble Works, Monuments, Tombs, Gravestones, Reading, Pa. and J. H. Hain, Manufacturer of Saddles, Harness, Whips, Reading, Pa.

"Eagle Marble Works. P. F. Eisenbrown, Cor. Elm & 6th Sts., near the new depot, Reading, Pa. Monuments, tombs, grave stones &c. McClement, Phila." For other cameo cards, see J. H. Hain, Manufacturer of Saddles, Harness, Whips, Reading, Pa. , and Best Boiler Works, Lancaster, Pa. ,

"Mitchell's Carpet Cleaning House, 21st & Race Sts. Carpets stored."

"For a ladies fine, stylish & durable shoe, always buy those made by Reed & Weaver, Rochester, N.Y." An example of a "stock" Victorian-era trade card with a generic design--a woman's hand holding blue forget-me-not flowers--that allowed it to be overprinted with advertisements for different businesses. Stock cards usually weren't used to illustrate products but rather as a way to entice customers and their children with bright and colorful designs that they'd want to take home and add to their scrapbooks. In this case, the same card was used for Reed and Weaver shoes in Rochester, N.Y. (above), photographer J. N. Choate of Carlisle, Pa. (below left), and Pallister Brothers' Candies of Ottumwa, Iowa (below right). A stock card like this might also have been used for calling cards, greeting cards, and rewards of merit. This second Pallister Brothers' Candies (below) illustrates the way in which stock cards were often printed in series. Instead of a hand holding forget-me-nots, this variation shows a hand holding a lily, and it's likely that the series included additional designs with other flowers.

John N. Choate was "the principal photographer for the [Carlisle Indian School in Carlisle, Pa.] from its opening in 1879 until his death in 1902." For more information, see Laura Turner, "John Nicholas Choate and the Production of Photography at the Carlisle Indian School," in Visualizing a Mission: Artifacts and Imagery of the Carlisle Indian School, 1879-1918 , exhibit catalog (Carlisle, Pa.: Trout Gallery, Dickinson College, 2004), pp. 14-18.

See also another Eat Pallister Bros' Candies trade card.

See also another Eat Pallister Bros' Candies trade card.

Who wouldn't want a sweeper for Christmas! The women depicted in this Victorian-era advertising trade card certainly seem pleased with their new Goshen sweeper and other gifts! "A Christmas gift, made by Goshen Sweeper Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. A Merry Xmas. Gies & Co., Buffalo, N.Y." Printed on the back of this advertising trade card: Our carpet sweeper is strongly made, does not easily get out of order, and lasts for years even with constant use. Sweeps easily and cleanly, backward and forward, with less wear and tear to the carpet than any other sweeper (brooms are death to carpets); goes farther into the corners, too. Doesn't spill dirt, and when you are ready it empties itself--almost, it is so simple. "The Rapid" is one name for it--all the same, it's a Goshen Sweeper; made for us. And just that is why it is better than any other. The Mowrey Latshaw Hdw. Co, Spring City, Pa. "It takes the dirt." Note: The Mowrey Latshaw Hardware Company, also known as Latshaw's Hardware, opened in 1875 and is still in business in Spring City, Pa., today, according to its Facebook page .

"I pray thee accept my Christmas greeting." Or else I'll throw a snowball at you!

"Don't cry, Johny. We have a new White Sewing Machine that will sew you all up so you will stay. W. J. Morgan & Co, Cleveland, O."

"John Wanamaker & Co. for Boys Clothing, 822 Chestnut St."

"A Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. Toy Tower, J. H. Wiegmann & Son, importers and dealers in toys & fancy goods, S.E. Cor. Eighth and Cherry Sts., Philadelphia."