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Books About Trade Cards

Shown below are some currently available books about trade cards and related material. Click on a book's image to learn more about it.

Books whose titles are marked with an * can be ordered through Amazon.com via The Trade Card Place, which is an Amazon.com Associate. The other books can be ordered directly from the author as specified in the book descriptions.

There is very little overlap among these books, partly because of the vast variety of trade cards that were issued and partly because of the varied interests of the authors, so that each of these books is a valuable contribution in its own right to our growing knowledge about trade cards. A good reference library about trade cards should contain all of these books.

VICTORIAN TRADE CARDS*
A 224-page, 8-1/2 x 11, softcover book written by Dave Cheadle, co-founder of the Trade Card Collector's Association and co-editor of The Advertising Trade Card Quarterly. Over 700 trade cards in 70 different categories are shown in full color at 75 percent of full size or larger. The current 1996 values are given for these cards as well as for a large number of listed-only cards. Provided for each card category are descriptions of typical images, historical notes, pricing tips, and cards to watch for. Published in 1996 by Collector Books. This book can be ordered from TCCA Books, PO Box 284, Marlton, NJ 08053, for $19.95 per copy (TCCA members are entitled to a 10% discount). Add $3.00 postage for the 1st book and 75 cents for each additional copy. This book can also be purchased through the Internet from Amazon.com Books.

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SOAPINE DID IT!
A 32-page, 8-1/2 x 11, softcover book written by Dave Cheadle and Bill Lee. Contains over 250 color illustrations of Soapine trade cards and related material, based on the Bill Lee Soapine Collection. The trade cards are shown in full color at 50% to 75% of actual size and are given value estimates. All known custom Soapine cards are shown, and most of the stock cards. The book is organized in terms of the Soapine advertising campaign waged by founder H. L. Kendall during the late 1800s and early 1900s, and provides fascinating insight into the life and times of that era. This book can be ordered from Dave Cheadle - Soapine Book, 3706 S. Acoma St., Englewood, CO 80110 for $25 postpaid or $28 shipped Priority Mail. It can also be ordered on the Internet at http://www.tradecardcollectors.com/Soapine.html

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THE BEFORE AND AFTER TRADE CARD
A 136-page, 8-1/2 x 11, softcover book written by Ben Crane, proprietor and webmaster of The Trade Card Place and contributor toThe Advertising Trade Card Quarterly. A total of 232 trade cards in 14 different categories are shown in high-quality black and white images at 70 percent of full size or larger. Each of these cards has a before and after theme, exemplifying the benefits of using the advertised product. Over 80 metamorphic trade cards are shown, both opened and closed, as well as several mechanical and hold-to-light cards. Published in 1995 by The Ephemera Society of America, ISBN 0-9657480-0-6. A CD and price guide are included in the $14 postpaid price of the book. See the B & A Book page for further description and ordering information.

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THE SNAKE-OIL SYNDROME: PATENT MEDICINE ADVERTISING*
An 8-1/2 x 11, hardcover book by A. Walker Bingham, 1994. Text cross-indexed by image and product name, 240 pages with 60 in color. Approximately 500 illustrations, mostly of trade cards. Available from the Trade Card Collector's Association. $40 plus $3 shipping, TCCA members may take a 10% discount.

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AN AMERICAN ENTERPRISE, CATALOGS 3 AND 4
Two 8-1/2 x 11, softcover catalogs, published in 1995 by Bill Mobley, founder and past president of The Ephemera Society of America. Catalog 3 contains 120 pages and shows 1251 items, mostly trade cards, in 13 categories at 50 percent of full size. Catalog 4 contains 144 pages and shows 1053 items, again mostly trade cards, in 12 additional categories at 60 percent of full size. Both catalogs feature high-quality black and white images, and list the actual prices for which the illustrated cards could have been purchased from Bill on a first-come, first-serve basis when the catalogs were originally issued. Although he has sold most of those cards, Bill's current sales stock is still organized in terms of these catalogs and may contain many of the illustrated cards. Each of these catalogs is available for $22 (or $40 for the two) postpaid, from Bill Mobley, PO Box 2001, Englewood, CO 80150, Phone: (303) 761-3755, or go to his Website at www.ephemeranet.com

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CURRIER AND IVES TRADE CARD CHECKLIST
A 44-page, 8-1/2 x 11, softcover book written by Ron Schieber, advanced collector, dealer and author of numerous trade card checklists. This book lists the 200 known trade cards printed by Currier & Ives, and shows 138 of them in high-quality, black and white illustrations at 70% of actual size. An index and price guide is provided. Available from Ron Schieber, Mad Money, P.O. Box 72057, Akron, OH 44372, for $16 ppd. Email madmoney@neo.rr.com

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MECHANICAL BANK TRADE CARDS
A 48-page, 8-1/2 x 11, softcover book by Bruce Roberts, advanced collector and contributor to The Advertising Trade Card Quarterly, containing 36 full-color, full-size illustrations of all known mechanical bank trade cards, including variants. Comprehensive information is provided about the bank cards, their printers, the bank manufacturers, and "just about every shred of mechanical bank trade card esoterica you can think of." Plus, free updates will be sent to all registered owners as new information becomes available. General value guidelines are provided. This book is published in a limited edition of 100 copies. For information, contact Bruce Roberts at broberts@stny.rr.com.

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BASEBALL ADVERTISING TRADE CARDS
An 84-page, 8-1/2 x 11, softcover book written by Frank Keetz, long-time collector of trade cards having a baseball theme, and of baseball memorabilia in general. This book is the 2nd edition of Frank's original 34-page,1980 edition, and has been expanded to provide a checklist of over 330 cards, 64 illustrations, and a price guide. The cards are organized into the 52 sets that have been identified to date (with an illustration of one card in each set), plus another 61 cards not belonging to any set. The illustrations are full-size, black and white Xerox copies, and the book itself consists of stapled, Xeroxed pages with heavier front and back covers. Not a "coffee table" book, but by far the most definitive source of information to be found on baseball trade cards. Available from Frank Keetz, 1556 Lexington Parkway, Schenectady, NY 12309-5121, for $16 per copy, postpaid and insured.

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THE TRADE CARD IN NINTEENTH-CENTURY AMERICA
A 10 x 7-1/2, hardcover book by Robert Jay, 1987. The most in-depth, general reference work on trade cards. A "must read" book for every trade card collector. 128 pages, illustrated, much in color, out of print. Available from the Trade Card Collector's Association. $45 plus $3 shipping, TCCA members may take a 10% discount.

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SNAKE OIL, HUSTLERS AND HAMBONES*
A 7-1/4 x 10-1/4 hardcover book written by Ann Anderson and containing 200 pages of text, photographs, illustrations, notes, appendices, bibliography, and index. This book provides a complete and thorough history of the medicine show phenomenon, beginning in the European Middle Ages with mountebanks and charlatans, and carries through to the American Hadacol craze of the 1950s. Of particular interest to trade card collectors are the chapters describing patent medicines during the Victorian era. Although only a few trade cards are shown, the discussion gives good insight into what the medicines actually were and the factors that fostered their great popularity and success. Well researched and written. Available for $42 ppd from McFarland & Company, Inc., order line 1-88-253-2187 or http://www.mcfarlandpub.com. This book can also be purchased through the Internet from Amazon.com Books.

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