Spice Trade Card by Bugbee & Brownell Importers & Grinders of Pure Spices Providence, Rhode Island Circa 1880 Trade cards are small cards that businesses would distribute to clients and potential customers. These cards were the preferred advertising medium for merchants in the 1800s and were given away to promote businesses and products. In its original sense, the "trade" in trade card refers to its use by the proprietor of a business to announce his trade, or line of business. |