Rosy Landscape |
Triple play: Beautiful landscape, bird and flower. What more could one ask?
Back of card above was plain by Woolson Spice calligraphic standards. |
This Victorian advertising trade card was given away with packages of Woolson Spice Company's Lion Coffee. Such advertising techniques were common in the late 19th century and have been used since then to sell cereals and other merchandise. In the 21st century, these cards, trinkets, etc. are sometimes known as "swag" and are a popular component of advertising campaigns.
Wikipedia says:
"The first known promotional products in the United States were commemorative buttons dating back to the election of George Washington in 1789. During the early 19th century, there were some advertising calendars, rulers, and wooden specialties, but there was no organized industry for the creation and distribution of promotional items until later in the 19th century."