By Geo' W Smith
Without the development of the printing press in 1445 theRenaissance may never have happened, and Johann Gutenberg theinventor certainly did not know he was sowing the seeds of thebusiness card entrepreneur's bonanza we have today. Whatcivilisation gained from Gutenberg's invention is incalculable.
Visting Cards
Visiting cards (also known as calling cards) first appeared inChina in the 15th century, and the earliest European form ofvisiting cards appeared in France in the 17th century during thereign of Louis XIV - "Le Roi Soleil". They were normal playingcards on which visitors wrote their signatures, promissory notesand other messages. The cards were just a little smaller thanthe size of a man's hand. As time went by, these visiting cardsfurther developed into greeting and other cards.
The business card evolved from the Visiting card over time, butthrough it's evolution it's purpose remains the same.
Trade Cards
Trade cards, another early form of the Business card, existed inEngland around the same time. Trade cards were used as a form ofadvertising and sometimes contained a map directing potentialcustomers to merchant stores, as there was no form of streetnumbering system at the time.
Other printing materials, such as newspapers, has not yet caughton as a vehicle for business marketing, so the earliest Tradecards were printed and issued using a letterpress method.However, copperplate engraving became the most popular method ofproducing the cards by the 18th century, and up to the 19thcentury, Trade cards were printed using a single colour(monotone). But as businesses thrived throughout the IndustrialRevolution, so did the production and distribution of Tradecards.
Lithography
Around 1830, lithography using several colours became anestablished method in Europe and was the primary method forprinting cards. As printing techniques became increasinglyadvanced, Trade cards became more elaborate, with pictures andfull colour designs. Since colour images were not widelyavailable, these cards became collector's items, and as thehobby elevated, many tobacco companies put the sportingcelebrities on one side and photos with text about theirproducts on the reverse. This was the start of the modern daytrading cards. Meanwhile, Visiting Cards arrived in Europearound the middle of the 1800's.
Calling Cards arrived
Visiting Cards, or "Calling Cards" as they became known, wereessential to the 19th century middle classes. The initialletters on personal Visiting "Calling Cards" denote French words:
p. f. - congratulations (pour feliciter) p. r. - expressingone's thanks (pour remercier) - even if one is presented withflowers
p. c. - mourning expression (pour condolence) p. f. N. A - HappyNew Year (pour feliciter Nouvel An) p. p. c. - meaning to takeleave (pour prendre conge) p. p. - if you want to be introducedto anybody, send your visiting card (pour presenter)
Soon, the Business card evolved from a fusion of traditionaltrade cards and visiting cards. A distinction between "business"and "visiting" cards quickly developed with the ornate Visitingcard serving social obligations only, whilst Business cards onthe other hand, were used solely for promoting business. It wasconsidered to be in very poor taste to use a Business card whenmaking a social call.
These days, the modern business card is used primarily for thepurpose of promoting a business, but it also serves as a callingcard.
First Salesman's Business card
Whilst Visiting Cards were at first the domain of the upperclasses, and trade cards were made to advertise and promoteparticular firms, the salesman who did the footwork calling onprospective clients needed a means to exchange information in asimple, concise manner. To fill this void the Business card wasintroduced with address or telephone contact information infancy printing and graphics.
Today, the salesman's Business card takes on many forms,including custom die cut shapes and sizes, with glossy coatingsand top quality photo graphics.
Business Card Printers Turn to Plastic
Known for their durability, plastic business cards weremanufactured using a variety of plastic substrates, includingbut not limited to: Polystyrene, Polyvinyl chloride (PVC),Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyester andsynthetic Papers.
20th century advances in printing technologies and syntheticmaterials made it possible to print liquid inks onto plastics.In addition to the wide range of commercial applications of thistechnology.
Today in the 21st century the more adventurous entrepreneurBusiness card printer has developed an array of sophisticatedproducts. These include Silk art board, single and double sidedBusiness cards, quality labels, complimentary slips, letterheadsfor all industries in superior quality papers, and laminatedsingle and double sided Postcards for all occasions. All ofwhich can be designed on line and uploaded to your personalcomputer. A boon to the busy firm requiring special needs.
For the rest of the world, the exchange of business cards hasbecome common even for social introductions. Even today, somepeople still carry "personal" Business cards which contain onlypersonal contact information and have no relation to theiremployer or business.
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