Saturday, June 23, 2012

Object of the Day: A Trade Card for German Yeast

Click Image Above to Enlarge



A blooming red rose—this image would have been the sort of thing which a Victorian lady would have eagerly collected for her book of cards and scraps. So, it was a pretty natural choice to use for a trade card geared to a largely (at the time) feminine population even though it has nothing whatsoever to do with the product being sold—yeast.

I’d wager that this card was picked from a catalog of stock designs to be used by the “German Yeast Company. Usually, when a card was printed—front and back—specifically for a company, the logo or motto of the concern was worked into the design.

Let’s take a look at the reverse. I’m sure it’s perfectly sensible copy.

Compliments of 

German Yeast Co. 

OMAHA, NEBRASKA 
------------- 

Ladies, if you wish a Yeast that will always 
be made of the best and purest of material, 
always give perfect satisfaction (satis- 
faction guaranteed or money 
refunded), ise the 

German Hop Yeast Cakes 

BEST MADE. 

Once used and you will use no other. We re- 
main, Yours most respectfully, 

GERMAN YEAST CO. 

P.S.—One of these beautiful Cards with every 
5 cent package German Hop Yeast. 



Well, that’s not too outrageous. It’s just written like an awkward letter. I imagine the manager of this yeast concern sitting at his desk, his tongue sticking out slightly, in the manner of Tristan McManus. “Now,” he says to himself, “I need to address all the young ladies who want yeast. How do I go about it? Ah…yes, I shall write a letter.”

“Dear Yeast-needing Young Ladies…” and so on.



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