Search
- Trade Card for Tea and Coffee, Union Pacific Tea Co., 1890-1900 - In the last third of the nineteenth century, an unprecedented variety of consumer goods and services flooded the American market. Advertisers, armed with new methods of color printing, bombarded potential customers with trade cards. Americans enjoyed and often saved the vibrant little advertisements found in product packages or distributed by local merchants. Many survive as historical records of commercialism in the United States.
- 1890-1900
- Collections - Artifact
Trade Card for Tea and Coffee, Union Pacific Tea Co., 1890-1900
In the last third of the nineteenth century, an unprecedented variety of consumer goods and services flooded the American market. Advertisers, armed with new methods of color printing, bombarded potential customers with trade cards. Americans enjoyed and often saved the vibrant little advertisements found in product packages or distributed by local merchants. Many survive as historical records of commercialism in the United States.
- The Noble Game of the Elephant and Castle, 1822-1840 - The educational game "The Noble Game of the Elephant and Castle" features a colorful board with the image of a stylized elephant and an 84-page rules booklet full of information about Asian customs. The twenty-four spaces across the elephant board depict customs, events, or people from Asia.
- 1822-1840
- Collections - Artifact
The Noble Game of the Elephant and Castle, 1822-1840
The educational game "The Noble Game of the Elephant and Castle" features a colorful board with the image of a stylized elephant and an 84-page rules booklet full of information about Asian customs. The twenty-four spaces across the elephant board depict customs, events, or people from Asia.
- Book, "Smiley's Atlas for The Use of Schools and Families," 1839 - This world atlas with lovely color maps would have been found in fortunate American homes and schools. The atlas reflects modern knowledge of natural geography in most ways, but not all (the shape of Michigan, for instance). The names, borders and even existence of countries have changed since 1839. Most maps include illustrations the mapmaker likely saw as symbolizing that land.
- 1839
- Collections - Artifact
Book, "Smiley's Atlas for The Use of Schools and Families," 1839
This world atlas with lovely color maps would have been found in fortunate American homes and schools. The atlas reflects modern knowledge of natural geography in most ways, but not all (the shape of Michigan, for instance). The names, borders and even existence of countries have changed since 1839. Most maps include illustrations the mapmaker likely saw as symbolizing that land.
- Trade Card for Singer Sewing Machines, 1892 - As color printing gained momentum in the late 19th century, trade cards became a major means of advertising goods and services. Americans enjoyed and often saved the vibrant little advertisements found in product packages or distributed by local merchants. The Singer Sewing Machine Company had a series of trade cards, like this one, offering images of Singer machine users from around the world in their national dress.
- circa 1892
- Collections - Artifact
Trade Card for Singer Sewing Machines, 1892
As color printing gained momentum in the late 19th century, trade cards became a major means of advertising goods and services. Americans enjoyed and often saved the vibrant little advertisements found in product packages or distributed by local merchants. The Singer Sewing Machine Company had a series of trade cards, like this one, offering images of Singer machine users from around the world in their national dress.