Object of the Day: a Giant Trade Card for Magic Yeast Cakes

Of the few hundred antique trade cards I’ve amassed over the last year, this is the largest.  In fact, it’s the largest I’ve ever seen.  The image on the front, in a gold-bordered ocal frame, shows a seductively-clad gypsy woman in a sumptuous, draped room.  She holds above her head an ornate tray.

Now, let’s think.  I’ve already given away the product being advertised in the title of this post, but if you didn’t already know, what would you think this card advertised?  Perfume?  Make-up?  Scented soap?  Lady stuff?  Nope—yeast.

Yeast.

Let’s see what it says on the back.  The copy is set landscape style while the image on the front is vertical.

And, no, it doesn’t make a lot of sense.

It reads:

THE ONLY WAY TO GET A PICTURE LIKE THIS

IS TO BUY A PACKAGE OF

MAGIC

YEAST CAKES

THE BEST DRY HOP YEAST IN THE WORLD.

They are prepared upon scientific principles.  They possess the greatest

strength and keeping qualities.  They will keep good over one

year.  They will make lightest, whitest, sweetest bread.

They never fail to give entire satisfaction.  If not kept

by  your grocer, he can order them of any whole-

sale grocer in the United States.

E.W. GILLETT, Manufacturer

CHICAGO, ILL.

MAGIC

YEAST CAKES

TRADEMARK

J&E

GILLETT’S

CREAM of TARTAR BAKING POWDER

AND

DOUBLE FLAVORING EXTRACTS