Trade Card for Whiting & Branston, Engravers & Printers 1800 - 1900

This is a trade card for Whiting & Branston, Engravers & Printers, made in London at an unknown date. These elaborate trade cards were a common form of advertising in the 18th and 19th centuries, before newspapers became a main source of ads. Cards like these speak volumes about the relationship between business and the state, and the politics of visual representation. The card’s reference to 'His Majesty' suggests an attempt to secure legitimacy through association with the monarchy. This was a common practice for businesses seeking to establish credibility in a competitive marketplace. The promise to prevent forgery highlights anxieties about financial security. Historians of commerce and visual culture would look at sources such as business directories, archives of printing houses, and collections of ephemera to further investigate the social and economic context in which this trade card was produced. These kinds of materials help us understand the intricate relationship between art, commerce, and social institutions.