Collection Guide
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Patent Medicine Trade Cards
Biomed.ark:/21198/zz0002gwzg
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Patent Medicine Trade Cards
Identifier/Call Number: Biomed.ark:/21198/zz0002gwzg
Physical Description:
247 prints
(trade cards)
Date (inclusive): [between 1870 and 1906?]
Abstract: The trade cards are small, colorfully illustrated advertising cards touting a particular medicine and its many cures. The
illustrations often have little to do with any of the ailments purported to be cured. They were pure advertising and very
collectible.
Language of Material:
English
.
UCLA Catalog Record ID:
9960994033606533
[Identification of item], Patent Medicine Trade Cards. History & Special Collections for the Sciences, UCLA Library Special
Collections.
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A collection of 247 patent medicine trade cards. Patent medicines were medical compounds sold under a variety of names and
labels, though they were for the most part actually trademarked medicines, not patented. The trade cards are small, colorfully
illustrated advertising cards touting a particular medicine and its many cures. The era of patent medicine began to unravel
in the U.S. with the passage of the first Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906.
This collection has been digitized and is only available online:
Patent Medicine Trade Cards (238 items) .
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Trade cards.
Nonprescription Drugs
Patent medicines