OVERVIEW

What are they? How do they work?

1. Trading Cards have artwork / photos / designs on the front with website links on the back to direct the flow of information to a desired destination on the web.
2. Website / Info links on cards can offer promotions, downloads, gifts and information - building interactivity with an audience.

Why Trading Cards?

1. Collectible : people collect and keep trading cards vs. throw away flyers. Printed in series, and having art / photos on one side, the card has a timeless value as a piece of art. Collecting a series of trading cards is fun and fosters promotion of the arts and artists, while creating P2P relationships at the same time.
2. Size : with their small standard size [ 2.5'x3.5' ], trading cards are easy to distribute / trade at music shows and events.
3. Web-links : card web-links provide a service for any artist, band, promoter or client by directing web traffic. Using web analytics, bands / promoters / event organisers can learn who and where their audience is for future promotions and relationship.

History : Art Cards [ Trading Cards ]
Art trading cards can be seen as the modern incarnation of several much older artistic forms. Because of their small size and usually modest price they have been linked to portrait miniatures, which flourished in the 14th century, and were often used as advertisements by wealthy merchant families in arranging marriages for their daughters. Until this time art collecting was mainly the hobby of the Noble and Royal classes.
In later centuries artist trading cards were used throughout Europe and America as art training tools. Artists would trade the cards between themselves to study each others techniques and explore new art movements. The cards paid a particularly important role in the Impressionists art movement. The Impressionists utilized both sides of their artist trading cards, art on one side and a kind of brief resume on the other. The Impressionists were the first known artists to use the cards in trade for anything other than more art. Impressionists often traded the cards with art collectors in exchange for room, board, and art supplies.
In 1887 "baseball" cards started to appear. These early cards are now very rare and it is uncertain what they were made of. They were not mass produced. During the period 1902 - 1935 baseball was in its golden years. Cards during this time were usually sold with bubble gum, chewing tobacco and cracker jacks. As they were marketed with different size products, baseball cards were different sizes and it was not until the 1960s that the modern 2.5 x 3.5 size was standardized.

Today there is a resurgence of Trading Cards for sale and trade. Start your collection by joining the Fan Club or ordering your own designs!