Trading Cards

Trading cards or collectible cards began as advertisements for tobacco brands, usually printed on some type of paper stock or card stock, and inserted into packaging by the tobacco manufacturers.

While the principle use of these cards was to stiffen cigarette packaging, a secondary, and more important reason though was for the promotional value as a way to advertise tobacco brands and promote brand loyalty.

When it turned out that it was actually the children of the "tobacco smoker" who was really doing the majority of the collecting, similar cards became very popular as inserts to bubblegum packs.


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