Object of the Day: A Trade Card for Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.

Founded in 1868, Metropolitan Life Insurance (now known as MetLife) developed from the National Union Life and Limb Insurance Company which had been opened in 1863 to insure Civil War soldiers. 

Here, we see an early trade card for Metropolitan Life.  Like many other trade cards of the 1880s and 1890s, this one uses an image of a chubby, rosy-cheeked tot.  Such images were in vogue at the time and would have been collectible in almost any household, providing the company a means of being ever-present in the home.

This little lad is dressed as a chef, holding a lobster.  He’s hawking Industrial Insurance (I suppose for foodstuff concerns and restaurant suppliers especially).  This card was specifically printed for the Branch Office at 96 4^th Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The reverse features information about their rates and policies.  I’m not going to reproduce the copy on the reverse because it’s kind of boring and difficult to read.