This collection consists of approximately 8,000 trade cards, chiefly American, recording products in a wide range of businesses and industries. Trade cards were small, illustrated advertising cards, which were one of the most popular means of advertising in the late nineteenth century. Baker Library's collection is particularly strong in cards advertising domestic products such as foods, baby foods, biscuits, soap, candy, cocoa, flour, spices, canned meats, cereal, etc. The trade card collection is representative of the range of products and items produced in late nineteenth-century America.
