Trade Card for C. Ingrey, Lithographic Printer, anonymous British 19th century

Der Erfinder der Lithographie, Alois Senefelder, führte 1818 das Thema der farbigen Lithographie ein. Auch Druckereien in anderen Ländern wie Frankreich und England begannen, Farbdrucke herzustellen. Die erste amerikanische Chromolithographie - ein Porträt von Reverend F. W. P. Greenwood - wurde 1840 von William Sharp geschaffen. Chromolithographien wurden in der amerikanischen Kultur so populär, dass die Ära als "Chromozivilisation" bezeichnet wurde. Während der viktorianischen Zeit bevölkerten Chromolithographien die Kinder- und Kunstpublikationen sowie Werbegrafiken auf Handelskarten, Etiketten und Plakaten. Sie wurden auch für Werbung, populäre Drucke und medizinische oder wissenschaftliche Bücher verwendet.

British trade cards are a type of advertising that was popular in Britain during the 18th and 19th centuries. They were used by businesses to promote their products and services, and they often featured colorful and eye-catching designs. Trade cards were a popular form of advertising because they were relatively inexpensive to produce and distribute. They were also effective in reaching a wide audience, as they could be handed out in person or left in public places. Trade cards were typically printed on paper or card stock, and they were often folded into a four-page leaflet. The front of the card would usually feature an image or illustration of the product or service being advertised, while the back would contain information about the business, such as its address and contact details.