Trade Cards
This includes all printed items and associated branded objects that were given away free as an incentive to purchase a particular brand. Commonly known as trade cards they first appeared during the Victorian Era and are still used today. Printed in their millions they could be found in everything from cigarette packs, cereal boxes, packets of tea to packs of sweets. Trying to complete a set encouraged further purchases. Covering every possible topic and being educational, sets could be stuck in albums and becaming a "poor man's reference book". Trade cards especially cigarette cards are highly collectable and reach very high prices. Our items are all 20th Century.