Myers Force Pumps made by Ashlands Pump and Haying Tool Works gets some publicity help from a scowling child and a hungry dog.

Trade cards (or tradesman's cards) started as a way for salesmen to advertise their products and services as early as the 1700s. However, it wasn't until Victorian times and the advent of the vivid coloring of the new chromo lithographic printing process that Trade Card collecting became a popular pastime.

The cards were kept in albums and scrapbooks and the Victorians finely-honed collecting habits are one reason we have so many well preserved examples available today.

Trade cards were often in a series, which was a common method used by manufacturers to encourage people to continue to buy their wares thus enabling them to collect an entire series of cards. Even today finding a complete series is still the collector's aim.

J & P Coats made prolific use of the trade card to sell their sewing thread.

Reduced postal rates and the rise of magazine publishing led to the eventual decline in popularity of this unique form of advertising and subsequently there was a downturn in the interest for collecting cards. In recent years collectors have once again shown an interest in Victorian trade cards.

Trade cards are still very affordable usually ranging from $5-$35 though like any collecting hobby, rare and more sought cards fetch prices in the hundreds.

Prince Albert's magnificent greyhound, Eos, as portrayed by Landseer ... the dog who inspired artwork for so many Victorian trade cards.

Dogs were a popular feature on Victorian trade cards. The St Bernard was a favorite portraying dependability and protection.

The St Bernard represented the sort of dependable image advertisers often required and simply helped to serve the advertiser's cause.

Young girl with a St Bernard dog advertising Willimantic Thread.

Another favourite dog used on Victorian Trade cards was the greyhound. This dog breed had become popular because of a greyhound named Eos who was a beloved pet of HRH Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. Prince Albert brought Eos to England from Germany when he came to marry the Queen. The Queen herself was quickly captivated by Eos and the dog was immortalised in a Landseer painting which remains part of the Windsor Castle Royal collection.

In a sense, a greyhound dog pictured on a Victorian trade card was an almost subliminal royal stamp of approval!

This elegant greyhound helps Boschee's German Syrup sales for colds, coughs and consumption with a tag along by Green's August Flower for dyspepsia and biliousness.

Medicines were heavily advertised through trade cards and wild claims for patent medicines were allowed to flow with unregulated abandon in Victorian times. Many cards exist expounding the uses of tonics for feeble children; removal of worms; weakness from poor digestion; fever and ague. Preparations often contained blood-making, force-generating, life-giving properties and cured everything from constipation to malaria — with the administration of a single tonic!

The Victorians treasured pictures of children with dogs and artists often used large dogs to create a dramatic effect. These were often the type of images found on the medicinal cards perhaps giving a sense of nurturing, guardianship and safety.

Trade cards can be found that feature nearly every breed, and their size, ease of handling and price make them a superb collector's item for people who enjoy dog memorabilia.

Another greyhound and young girl advertising soap.

Victorian Trade Cards span an enormous array of collecting interests and collectors may choose to focus on dog breeds; cards from the same company; the same year; or for a certain type of product such as dogs advertising medicines, foods or even sewing machines.