Trade Card for Tosswill & Co., Designers, Engravers, Steel Plate, Lithographic & Letterpress Printers 1800 - 1900

This trade card for Tosswill & Co. was printed in London, using a combination of steel plate engraving, lithography, and letterpress. These were the cutting-edge methods for commercial printing at the time. The card shows the company’s range of services. The green border is ornately engraved, typical of the period. The central panel, in a contrasting tone, highlights the firm’s name and specialties. Notice the images tucked into the design – a grand building at the top, perhaps a bank or government office, and a busy industrial waterfront below. This card is more than just advertising. It's a statement about the ambition of Victorian commerce, and about the pride that these printmakers took in their skilled trades. It’s a reminder that even seemingly disposable items like trade cards were once the product of considerable artistic and technical labor. Considering the materials, making, and context, we can challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft and fully understand the artwork.