Advertising trade cards

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In the late 1800s businesses started printed color cards with advertisements for their goods and services. Grocers and other retailers handed them out to their customers. People collected them back then, and of course there are collectors of the old trade cards today. 

I found these sample via Google's image search, but if you're interested in seeing more The Trade Card Place has many more in their scrapbook, although unfortunately their samples are rather small in size. there are more samples after the jump.

Graphic design moves in cycles and draws inspiration from the past. We've gone through a period heavily influenced by 1930s propaganda and have moved into a 1950s retro period. Looking at these cards I wonder when and if the florid Victorian style will ever become popular again?