Help Request Re: Background Info on 1888 Boston Baseball Club Trade Card, $100 Reward

[steve B]

From their questions, it sounds like they don't have a decent understanding of tradecards.

Some were made generically, and sold sort of like business cards today, buy a boxful with the business name and info on them.

Others were made specifically for very large companies, like singer and white sewing machines, or the many thread companies. Some had spaces left for the dealer to have their info printed or stamped on.

The most interesting ones were made specifically for one company or product, and the image often wasn't used anywhere else. These were also usually made locally and in smaller quantities.



Since the company was a wholesale grocer, they probably had several house brands, and the tradecard could have been a box topper in a box of cigars advertising a more upscale brand from them. The prints may have been used as store displays.


searching "boston club cigar" didn't find much. There is an 1889 newspaper that may have something, but you'd have to get a trial membership in the newspaper site. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/430727960/