A brief history of business cards

Business cards are a common form of advertising and exchange of contact information between business owners and the public. They have a long history dating back to the 15th century in China. The business card began as a “calling card” or a calling card. It was a social convention subject to very strict etiquette rules. The visiting card was introduced to Europe in the 17th century during the reign of Louis XIV, known as the Sun King. In the same century the practice began to take hold in English society.

At about the same time, the card transitioned from its social beginnings to a commercial purpose with the introduction of the business card. It was a period when newspapers were an underdeveloped resource and the media that is the focus of today’s advertising did not exist. The business card was designed to direct the public to a merchant’s location and usually contained a map and directions. This was at a time when the current street numbering system did not exist. These early trading cards were printed by woodcut or letterpress printing methods, and were usually drab or contained a small amount of dye.

Around 1830, lithography became the printing medium of choice, and colors became more important. In the United States, the business card tradition caught on and became very popular. For a brief period there wasn’t much of a distinction between the calling card and the calling card. Gradually the two types of cards began to drift apart. The etiquette rules that arose during this period began to make the idea of ​​a card emphasizing a business function unacceptable as a business card. In fact, when a person left a business card during a social visit to a house, it was considered an attempt to collect a bill or a debt.

With the passage of time, it is the business card that has gradually disappeared from the scene, while the business card has become a business pillar. With the introduction of new card materials, such as plastic and magnetic back cards, and the widespread use of color business cards, the business card industry has moved into the modern era in an exciting way. Business card templates now exist to make designing and mass-producing cards affordable. A business card is a must for anyone dealing with the public today, and for many it is one of the most important advertising tools.