Ephemera includes Advertisements

Ephemera is basically paper items that were meant for one use or for a short period of time and then discarded.

Antique and vintage Advertisements fall into this category. Printed advertisements have been around for a very long time. Ever since craftsman and merchants discovered that it was important to promote themselves, their business, and their products. In the Victorian Era, it became popular to collect what is now known as Trade Cards. These were basically advertisements for products that a storekeeper would have in their shops. The fronts were usually so beautifully done that Victorians actually kept scrapbooks of these ads in their parlors.

Advertisements taken from periodicals are collected for a variety of reasons. Usually the advertisement shows an item that someone collects. An ad with Fiesta dishes or an ad with a particular railroad company can be added to a collection of these items. Classic Car buffs like to get an advertisement showing the car that they have promoted in the year it was first available.

Old advertisements are fun to collect and usually relatively inexpensive.