I was recently invited to join a group within the Ephemera Network that focuses on business, trade & calling cards. More specifically the group says that it

“Celebrates the use and collection of all business, trade & calling cards in this new electronic age… Antiquarian to contemporary.”

While there are currently only a dozen or so members, it promises to be a very active and growing group of interested parties.

Frank DeFreitas, who started the group, is a Collector, Curator/Archivist and Researcher. Most of all he is a Holographer (3-dimensional laser holograms) and has had a laser and holography studio in Eastern Pennsylvania since 1983. While he has been collecting holography-related ephemera for over 30 years, he is also a published author. He wrote an article in 1988 entitled “Antiquarian Holographica” and co-authored a classic holography book entitled “Shoebox Holography”.  You can read Frank’s blog here

The group has already uncovered a number of very colorful and interesting name cards such as the one here on the right. This particular one came from a fellow named Chuck Whiting who has been one of the more active participants.  Chuck is a Texas bookseller specializing in used, out-of-print, and rare books.  His blog entitled Bibliophemera is here.. This particular image is actually what is called a trade card – used by booksellers to advertise the bookseller’s business.  Chuck did not date it, but it is perhaps from the 1940′s or 1950′s.

I contributed a link to a site called “Words and Eggs” – (“Words and eggs must be handled with care. Once broken they are impossible things to repair”) – where I found this colorful card.  It’s from a company in Camden, NJ named Samuel P. Wright and Company which specializes in printing ink.  A brief Google search seems to lead to a company named “JK Wright Printing Ink Company” which was apparently a follow-on to Sam’s company.

So if you have any interest in business cards, calling cards or trade cards, I’d suggest a visit to the Ephemera Network and to Frank’s group.  I think you will find it to be very interesting, informative, and with lots of wonderful cards on display.

How about YOU?  Do you have any interesting antique or vintage cards you’d like to highlight?  Or perhaps you even have a current card, yours or someone elses that you think is either interesting, colorful, well designed, or just plain nice.  Let us know or make a posting on the Network.  Showcase your collection for others to enjoy.

I’m Tom Murphy and thanks for helping me give Ephemera the Encore it deserves.

Tom

Have a look at my eBay Ephemera site
or have a look at my eBay Auction sites
(Due to travel, there may not be any items listed at this point in time)

Technorati tags: Encore Ephemera, Ephemera, Ephemera Network, Frank DeFreitas