Political Trade Cards

Trade cards in general were very popular between 1870 and 1900. Shortly after there appearance these colorful trade stimulators became popular to collect. Keeping scrapbooks of trade cards was the in vogue thing to do. During election years, presidential candidates were popular subjects for the manufacturers of trade cards. This one is a morphing card between Samuel J. Tilden and U.S. Grant. By simply flipping down the small flap you see Tilden turn into Grant. This one is interesting; early on in 1876 Grant was considered a possible candidate for a third term. He chose not to run. Tilden faced Rutherford B. Hayes in our centennial election, won the popular vote by more than 200,000 but lost by one in the Electoral College vote. It is widely believed that had Tilden contested strongly he might have started a 2^nd Civil War. He is quoted as saying he preferred “4 years of Hayes to a Civil War.”

To see several other trade cards click on the image above.