Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	HD8F Hallet & Davis Bookmark Trade Cards
Year	Unknown
Size	1 7/8″ x 6″
Images	Color
Type	Trade Card
Number in Set	Unknown

HD8F Hallet & Davis Bookmark Trade Cards Overview

These unique trade cards were actually bookmarks for famous piano company, Hallet & Davis. They are not only shaped like bookmarks, but actually have the word ‘bookmark’ printed on them.

They were clearly an advertisement and can be considered a trade card issue. That is because of the backs, which included varying advertisements for the company in two different layouts (despite the fronts having the same design). One back style has vertical printing while others have horizontal printing. I am not sure if the different styles can be found with each bookmark.

Advertising bookmarks were identified by Jefferson Burdick in his American Card Catalog in his Art Types category in the Advertising Cards Classification. Art Types are identified as HD8 and bookmarks are in subsection ‘F’. Therefore, this issue has the somewhat cumbersome HD8F label.

The cards included a turquoise and white-colored border with a floral print. In the center was a subject with a small white box area below. Hallet & Davis (initially Brown and Hallet, as explained here) produced and sold pianos. It is possible that the empty white box could have been used by an individual salesman or store to place their information.

All of the bookmarks I have seen have included non-sports figures. The only sports one is this football card pictured here. It shows a young child with a ball and wearing a football uniform. It has a small No. 201 printed at the bottom.

HD8F Hallet & Davis Bookmark Trade Cards Checklist

This set is made up of primarily non-sports subjects. A complete checklist is not known and the only known sports issue is this football bookmark.

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