Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Object of the Day: A Trade Card for the Central Pacific Tea Co.





New York’s Central Pacific Tea Company, in the late Nineteenth Century, was known for their marketing gimmicks and give-aways.  In addition to the usual trade cards like the one pictured here, the Central Pacific Tea Company enticed customers with offers to present them with free gifts with every purchase.

This card, dating to about 1880, demonstrates this marketing technique and also provides us a very fashionable image of the era.  Pictured is a well-dressed lass with an exotic bird.  The keeping of such birds was considered elegant and the feathered beauties acted both as pets and home décor. 

As was often the case with American cards of the period, there’s nothing printed on the back.  The front reads:

CENTRAL PACIFIC TEA CO.,
No. 660 BROADWAY,            ALBANY, N.Y.
S. McKnight, Manager
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Big Presents with Teas and Coffee



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