What Did Printers Print?
by Richard Sheaff
Many 19th century promotional cards and advertisements for printing and engraving companies list of the sorts of things they had produced, or wished to produce. I always like to take a close look at such listings, and am often rewarded with new information.
And in addition . . . each one of such listed items can be looked at as a category of collectible! With that in mind, here are a few trade cards which itemize products, followed by a list compiled from a host of vintage items, in no particular order.
Invitations
Counting house seals
Door plates
Checks
Receipts
Visiting cards
Professional cards
Trade cards
Business cards
Promissory orders
Letterheads
Billheads
Diplomas
Certificates
Labels
Tickets
Passes
Award certificates
Rewards of Merit
Warrantees
Wedding cards
Cake boxes
Publications
Books
Magazines
Records
Headings
Arguments
Momentos
Statements
Schedules
Railroad bills
Due bills
Wrappers
Law briefs
Orders of Dancing
Circulars
Warrants
Pamphlets
Booklets
Almanacs
Diplomas
Handbills
Posters
Periodicals
Bills of lading
Shipping manifests
Price lists / Prices current
Catalogs
Folders
Souvenirs
Show cards
Programs
Records
Dodgers
Envelopes
Calendars
Chromolithography on iron, glass and paper
Illuminated advertising cards
Patriotic envelopes
Maps
Pictures
Blank books
Foolscap
Note papers
Ruled forms
Chromos
Bands
Landscapes
Portraits
Scenes
Diagrams
Charts
Fans
Shape novelties
Advertising cards
Note heads
Campaign materials
Transcripts
Address cards
Hat checks
Door hangers
Bills of fare
Paper bags
Wrapping paper
Folding boxes
Sheet music
Cards for mounting photographs
Novelties
Advertising envelopes
Greeting cards
Fliers
Flour bags
Inserts
Stock certificates
Score cards
Valentines
Sailing cards
Scraps
Playing cards
Notices
Announcements
Invoices
Dunning notices
Mottos
Rosters
Menus
Cookbooks
Diecuts
Tags
Eulogies
Display cards
Signs
Bookplates
Recipe cards
Awards
Postcards
Decals
Views of buildings
Bonds
Bank notes
Stationery