Amazingly beautiful collection of 18th Century business cards/announcements
Hey there. How’s your day going? Just ok? Well stick this in your downbeat pipe and breathe in the beauty because this is wonderful. We’ve flagged up the excellent Spitalfields Life blog before but they’ve gone to stunning new heights with this collection of 18th century traders’ cards and adverts. Anyone who’s read American Psycho knows the many connotations which can be attached to the humble business card but this was a simpler time when a linen draper could put a picture of a massive fish on their card for no apparent reason. Collected from the Bishopsgate Institute’s archives this is a fascinating glimpse into graphic design’s distant past with certain tricks echoing down the ages. Oh and it includes William Hogarth’s business card. And exhale…
18th Century Trader’s Card via Spitalfields Life and courtesy The Bishopsgate Institute
18th Century Trader’s Card via Spitalfields Life and courtesy The Bishopsgate Institute
18th Century Trader’s Card via Spitalfields Life and courtesy The Bishopsgate Institute
18th Century Trader’s Card via Spitalfields Life and courtesy The Bishopsgate Institute
18th Century Trader’s Card via Spitalfields Life and courtesy The Bishopsgate Institute
18th Century Trader’s Card via Spitalfields Life and courtesy The Bishopsgate Institute
18th Century Trader’s Card via Spitalfields Life and courtesy The Bishopsgate Institute
18th Century Trader’s Card via Spitalfields Life and courtesy The Bishopsgate Institute
18th Century Trader’s Card via Spitalfields Life and courtesy The Bishopsgate Institute
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About the Author
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Rob Alderson is a freelance writer, editor and strategist. He was previously editor-in-chief of It’s Nice That and WePresent, and editor of Design Week. He publishes the newsletter Undo, which tries to make sense of how AI is changing design work, the design process and the design industry.
