Dr. Seth Arnold's Balsam, Gilman Bros. (Boston, Mass) (Trade Card) (Version 2), undated

The Medical Trade Cards and Advertisements Collection contains 197 colorful trade cards, three business cards, three bi-fold brochures, one accordion brochure, and two booklets promoting medical services and products for a variety of different products, companies, physicians, and locations. Of the 197 trade cards in this collection, 26 are duplicates. In addition to illustrations on the front, some trade cards also having printed information about the product on the verso. The products in the trade cards and advertisements claim to cure coughs, colds, asthma, tuberculosis, malaria, croup, constipation, sore throats, kidney stones, cholera, eczema, nervousness, balding, and what was then known as “female weakness,” among many other ailments.

While the peak of trade card popularity in the United States was between 1870 and 1890, the dated trade cards in this collection range in from 1864 to 1889, while the other dated advertisements range from 1854 to 1893. The collection also includes many undated trade cards and advertisements, though they also likely fall within this date range.

The trade cards range in size from 2.10” x 3.13” to 6.15” x 3.45”. The business cards range in size from 4.10” x 2.6” to 5.5” x 3.45” The bi-fold brochure range in size from 3.13” x 5.15” (closed) and 6.25” x 5.15” (open) to 5.72” x 8.8” (closed) and 11.5” x 8.8” (open). The booklets range in size from 5.4’ x 3.65” to 3.95” x 5.6” (closed) and 5.4” x 10.75” to 7.75” x 5.6” (open). The dimensions of the accordion brochure is 3.9 in x 3 in (closed) and 3.9 in x 20.75 in (open).