A: In the early part of the 19th century printing methods were pretty expensive and few people could afford books or printed magazines. With the perfection of cheaper printing methods towards the end of the 19th century, magazines and trade cards began to appear much to the delight of the image starved public. At this time there was very little for people to do with their free time. As trade cards and later insert cards became more and more widespread the public began collecting them as a diversion to everyday life.

1860-1890: This was the period of the trade card. Most cards produced during this time were single images done to promote a trade or product. Some series were made but most of these were of a stock design. Thousands of trade cards were produced and the public collected them and glued them into scrapbooks so they could enjoy them over and over again. This popularity led directly to the invention of the insert card.

1890-1915: During this period the trade card was replaced with the insert card. Manufacturers realized that if they inserted a card in with their product that the people would buy more of their product to collect the insert. Many different products from coffee and tea to baking soda began including paper inserts in with the product. Without a doubt the largest distributor of original insert cards during this time were the tobacco companies who produced an amazing array of beautiful full color card series on a wide range of topics. By the 1910's the tobacco inserts finally disappeared.

1910-1920: This was the period of the candy insert and caramel was king. Bubble gum hadn't been invented yet so the most popular candy insert came from the caramel companies. Most of the issues were reprints from the earlier tobacco series.

1920-1940: The largest segment to include insert cards during this period were the bakeries. Hundreds of series of original insert cards came inserted one per loaf of bread. Since printing was still cheap many of the series produced during this time had the imprint of the local bakery creating many back variations. Bread inserts existed right up until World War II. Due to paper restrictions the inserts were halted. After the war, bread inserts reappeared and continue to the present day. However, they never again were produced in the quantity of the prewar years.

1930-1980: With the invention of bubble gum in the early 1930's, cards began to appear as inserts with the gum. This brought on the golden age of gum cards. Bubble gum became the standard with which the insert card was distributed. Thousands of series were made all over the world and all were distributed with bubble gum. By the early 1980's the gum itself finally disappeared as collecting the cards were more important than the gum.

1980-Today: In the modern era cards are mostly produced simply to collect. Occasionally you will find insert cards in cereal or some other grocery item but the primary distribution method is the "trading card".

Trade Card: Also known as an Advertising Card. These cards first appeared in the mid to late 1800's and were used to advertise a particular trade, product or service. Many were issued in series with pretty pictures on them and people began collecting them and mounting them in scrapbooks. Their popularity led to the insert card explosion of the late 1800's. These types of cards are still in use today in the form of the modern "promo" card.

Insert Card: These cards came inserted free in some product. It was the only way to acquire them and they were always intended to be collected in hopes the collector would buy more of the product. Insert cards often appeared in tobacco, gum, candy and cereal and continue to this day.

Souvenir Card: Souvenir cards are sold directly as their own product. Often sold as a complete set to be collected based on the subject matter. Modern cards fall into this category as they are sold purely as a collectible themselves.

Stock Card: A stock card is a card whose design is sold to multiple companies to distribute with their own imprint on them. This was a cheaper alternative during the days of the trade cards for smaller companies to advertise without having the additional expense of commissioning artwork.

M (Mint)

Card is perfect out of pack condition with perfect centering.

NM/M (Near Mint/Mint)

Card is almost perfect out of pack condition. It may be slightly off center but still looks like new.

NM (Near Mint)

Card is near perfect specimen. Great color and focus, decent centering (60/40 or better), no defects of any kind. A very nice card. This is typically the highest grade given to pre-1990 cards, mainly due to printer quality control issues.

EX/NM (Excellent/Near Mint)

Card is a strong EX but not quite NM. It usually exhibits as NM but may have some minor quality that keeps it from the NM category.

EX (Excellent)

Card is a very nice specimen. Good color and focus, centering may be slightly worse (70/30 or better), no major defects of any kind, card may have slightly softened corner(s) but still very square. Still a very decent card.

VG/EX (Very Good/Excellent)

Card is a strong VG but not quite EX. It usually exhibits as EX but has some defect keeping it from the EX category. This could be a slight crease or 80/20 to 90/10 centering.

VG (Very Good)

Card is a little rough but still a very displayable specimen. Color and focus may be off, centering may be way off (miscut), may have one or more major defects, card usually has fairly rounded corner(s) or noticable wear.

G/VG (Good/Very Good)

Card is a strong G but not quite VG. It usually exhibits as VG but has some major defect to keep it from the VG category.

G (Good)

Card is pretty rough and is usually only good for a filler or type card. Color and focus and centering may be way off, usually has multiple major defects. Card usually has very rounded corner(s) or damage of some kind.

Fair

Card is very rough and is only good for a filler or type card. Always heavily damaged but might exhibit some superior quality to be kept out of the poor category.