Collection of fourteen trade cards advertising lawn mowers
USA various 1880-1900
Fascinating collection of American trade cards. Various manufacturers. All but two in colour (chromolithographs). Some fold-outs. Most with printed prices on the rear. Various sizes: from 165mm x 165mm to 145mm x 85mm., All illustrate lawn mowers for domestic gardens with cutting in progress. Most of the illustrations show either women or children mowing the lawns suggesting this was considered an appropriate occupation for them. Some of the cards advertise junior models for children to use. Mechanical mowing became possible early in the 19th century by an English engineer named Edwin Budding. The first USA mowers were designed in 1870, by Elwood McGuire of Richmond, Indiana and by the mid 1880s they were a major export with many other manufacturers entering the field of production. The cards represent suppliers' advertising. One card has a tear to one corner and another has been badly folded else a good collection. Ancient reisdual glue marks on one or two where they may have been mounted.