Trade cards were first introduced in London on the 17the century. The first trade cards were directional cards that gave information about how to get to a merchants store. At that time there were no formal street names or street numbers. The early cards were printed on woodcut or letterpress devices and were very expensive and available to relatively few merchants. Advances in the technology of printing improved every century. The 18th century trade cards were produced on copperplate and were cheaper, as more impressions could be now made. The 19th century saw the introduction of tinting and hand coloring of trade cards and the use of more efficient printing methods.
Over this 200 hundred year period the use of trade cards constantly increased as it was found to be an effective way of advertising and getting the message out about trading matters. As a business grew and became more profitable, the trade cards became more elaborate, in some cases being a sign of success. In the 1850s came the major breakthrough in printing trade cards. The metal plates alluded to earlier made mass production of credit cards a reality.
Actual color printing of trade cards did not occur until the second half of the 19th century in both Europe and America. The addition of color to trade cards made them much more readable and acceptable. However, the demise of the popularity of the trade cards began with the mass production of newspapers in both Europe and America at the start of the 20th century. Many cities and towns began producing newspapers and with advertising possibilities, merchants and store owners reduced their reliance on trade cards for their advertising.
People collected trade cards, but the introduction of post cards also contributed to the demise of the trade cards. The collectors found the colorful postcards more attractive and interesting to collect than the trade cards. They effectively disappeared in the early 1900s.
The trade cards of today are known as business cards, and it would interesting to determine how much business these small cards still generate. The cost of producing business cards has plummeted and they are readily available in full color with gloss and waterproof finishes. The options are endless. Little did the first people who made trade cards know how they would be produced and used over 300 years later.
Collectors of business cards often collect business card holders as well.For more information on business cards and business card holders go to http://groovyideas.googlepages.com
Source: www.isnare.com
