TRADE CARDS.

The article focuses on the use of trade cards for advertising by manufacturers in the U.S. during 1870s. These cards endorsed the qualities of all commodities. They were placed in packages at the factory, given out by retailers with all purchases made, or mailed to prospective customers. Attractive colored pictures adorned the front of the cards while the total sales pitches were printed at the back. These trade cards offer information on the American lifestyle of that time.