Comments on: Old London Trade Cards

By: Sarah @ First Night Design

Sarah @ First Night Design — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 15:04:19 +0000

Beautiful. We should go back to these kind of designs!

By: John Campbell

John Campbell — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 19:00:05 +0000

These are fabulous! Interesting to see that even the humble ‘nightman’ had his own trade card. These chaps were regarded as the lowest of the low due to their performing of tasks such as unblocking the public lavatories and any other foul duty that nobody else would do. The irony was that they were social outcasts for the most part and unable to find decent lodgings due to their appearence and odour but were usually very rich men who demanded high prices for their skills. A large additional income was also earned from the collection of fallen coins and jewellery from gentlemens britches that floundered in the murky depths of the street lavatories. Where there’s muck there’s brass right enough!

By: Caroline Murray

Caroline Murray — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 13:34:50 +0000

What a wonderful selection: the female chimney sweep must have been quite unusual for the period! You probably know that Sir Joseph Banks’s sister, Sarah Sophia, had an enormous collection of such ephemera, most of which are now in the British Museum.

By: Jude

Jude — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 09:18:45 +0000

Am thinking such cards were only done by more well-off establishments. My humble shoemaker ancestor on frying pan alley must have just had word of mouth 🙂

By: Rachel Lucas

Rachel Lucas — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 08:52:48 +0000

Absolutely fascinating…so many fabulous old trades not needed or valued in our modern world. Beautiful cards too. Such a wonderful look back in time. Thank you, once again, for making my day!

By: Barbara Elsmore

Barbara Elsmore — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 06:24:13 +0000

Absolutely fabulous thank you – I could look at these little works of art and little slices of history all day they are so very beautiful with so much to tell us.

By: Valerie-Jael

Valerie-Jael — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 05:12:52 +0000

Wonderful collection of signs, and so much nicer than the flyers of today. Valerie

By: Janet M

Janet M — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 03:10:21 +0000

Lovely language and interesting businesses. I want to shop at some of these.

By: violet hoarder

violet hoarder — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 03:09:30 +0000

I love these! Thank you for sharing.