Victorian Trade Cards: The Art of Advertising in the 19th Century

Victorian trade cards were one of the most popular forms of advertising during the late 19th century, especially in the United States and Europe. These small, colorful cards were distributed by businesses to promote everything from soap and sewing machines to candy, medicine, and department stores.

Trade cards flourished during the Victorian era (roughly 1837–1901), coinciding with advancements in color lithography that allowed for mass production of richly illustrated prints. Many featured charming or humorous images—children, animals, flowers, and whimsical scenes—paired with the name and address of the business being promoted.

This is a collection of Victorian trade cards from the late 19th century.

Liebig Company's Fleisch-Extract, Trade Card, Enthüllte Zauberkünste, Die Geister, circa 1880s

Liebig Company's Fleisch-Extract, Trade Card, Miezchens erste Schlittenfahrt, circa 1880s

Queen Regent of Spain, from World's Sovereigns series (Num. 34) for Allen & Ginter's Cigarettes, circa 1880s

Liebig's Beef Extract, "Italian Masques I", "Arlecchino", French issue, 1883

Véritable Extrait de Viande Liebig, "Italian Masques I" French issue, 1883

Liebig Company's Fleisch Extract, Trade Card, S170, Violett, Man beachte die Rückselle, German issue, 1886

The Most Popular Agent, 'Compound Oxygen, its Mode of Action and Results,' a Treatise of Nearly Two Hundred Pages, Giving Full and Interesting Information, circa 1886

Liebig Company's Fleisch-Extract, Trade Card, Opernszenen, Wagner, Nr. 3, Lohengrin (Lohengrin's Ankunft), 1889

Liebig Company's Fleisch Extract, Im Reich der Fabel [In the World of Fables], Centauren, 1896

Liebig Company's Fleisch Extract, Trade Card, S597, "Order of the Golden Fleece", Liebig Beef Extract, "Orders of Chivalry", Austria & Spain, Philippe the Good, Duke of Bourgogne, 1429, Belgian issue, 1897

Liebig Company's Fleisch-Extract, Trade Card, Brüderchen und Schwesterchen Nr 06, circa 1899

Antoine-Augustin Parmentier, Les Bienfaiteurs de l'Humanité, Chocolat Guerin-Boutron, circa 1890s

Chocolat Suchard, Neuchâtel, Suisse, 1386 Battle of Sempach, circa 1890s

Denis Papin, Chocolat Guérin-Boutron, circa 1890s

Le Déjeuner de Pierrot, Chocolat Guérin-Boutron, circa 1890s

Liebig Company's Fleisch Extract, Trade Card, Blau, Man beachte die Rückseite, circa 1890s

Liebig Company's Fleisch-Extract & Pepton, Brüderchen und Schwesterchen Nr 04, circa 1890s

Liebig Company's Fleisch-Extract & Pepton, Trade Card, "Weh', ich falle - gieb doch Acht!, Schuh verloren! Elflein lacht!", circa 1890s

Liebig Company's Fleisch-Extract & Pepton, Trade Card, Die fünf Sinne, Geruch, circa 1890s

Liebig Company's Fleisch-Extract, Cap Spaventa, circa 1890s

Liebig Company's Fleisch-Extract, Nordische Göttersage, Donarim Kampf gegen die Midgardschlange und den Frostriesen, circa 1890s

Liebig Company's Fleisch-Extract, Trade Card, Don Quijote Nr 4, circa 1890s

Liebig's Beef Extract, "Centaures", circa 1890s

Liebig's Fleisch-Extract, Brauttrachten Russische Braut, circa 1890s

Liebig's Fleisch-Extract, Granate, circa 1890s

Liebig's Fleisch-Extract, Specialitäten Theater, Kunstschütze, circa 1890s

The Great Willimantic Bridge, circa 1890s