Trading Cards

One "fun" thing about

packing up all the closets and cupboards

is that I've come across some

items I'd forgotten about.

Note: I use the word "fun" lightly

Back at the beginnings of Ebay

it was so interesting to be able
see and find new and unusual things.  

Things I couldn't find in my
 little neck of the woods.

I got interested in the world of

ephemera

No, that's not a disease,
but the collecting

of written or printed material that

was intended not to be long lasting.

One of my interests was in
the trading cards that the Singer Manufacturing Co
printed  and distributed
as part of an aggressive advertising plan.

One give away group of cards was in preparation for

Chicago's 1892 Great Colombian World Fair.

Singer commissioned a famous series of 36 trade cards,

 called "Costumes of All Nations".

The cards were printed lithographs taken

from photographs which were taken by their agents in different countries.

The customers were  dressed in their national costumes. 

The backs of the cards

reveal an "interesting attitude"

towards all these different cultures.

 I love the fact that these

cards show the same country, but

the men and women each have a separate card.

It appeared that Singer was ready to 

civilize the world with their sewing machine.

 

With a Singer, life was going to be better.

 These cards are interesting too.

 They only show men with the sewing machine.

Millions of these sets of cards

were given away.

People loved them as a window on the world.

Singer continued issuing several different sets.

 These cards are from 1894

The color and detail is really lovely.

 They kept expanding their cards

 as they expanded their marketing in all 

corners of the globe.

Singer continued to show the world how progressive 

having a sewing machine was.

In many cases you have to study your geography

because these regions or countries

have changed.

 They kept printing these cards until

the beginning of WWI.

The cards are an interesting look

at cultural history nearly

a hundred twenty years ago.

 Until Next Time-