Vigo County Historical Society

Condit children collected more than 800 advertising cards

These advertising cards are a few of the more than 800 cards collected by the Condit children--Helen, Allen, Blackford and Joseph. Helen Condit gave the collection to the Vigo County Historical Society in 1958. The collection was catalogued and indexed by the late Juliet Peddle.

Advertising trade cards are one of the most popular paper collectibles of today. These brightly colored cards were presented when a purchase was made. They were intended to remind the consumer of a produce and were often printed in sets to encourage collecting.

The brand name of the product and the manufacturer’s message is usually on the front of the card and the local merchant’s name and address are on the back. In addition to helping to locate and identify local businesses and businessmen, advertising trade cards show attitudes, habits, fashions, furnishings and maladies of America from 1870 to 1910.

Children and adults alike collected these advertisements, and competition was great among family and friends to see who could acquire the largest number of different cards. Many rainy days and evenings were spent trading and sorting the cards and pasting them in scrapbooks.