Depictions of products made and sold were common in the 19^th century. Smiths’, braziers’ and ironmongers’ cards often showed new types of stove or smoke-jack.

Thomas Upton and Skidmore & Son provide captions for the images, enabling us some 150 years or more later to distinguish between Register Stoves and Pantheon Stoves or between Smoke Jacks and Kitchen and Laundry Jacks. The trade card of William King is unusual for having on its verso a tradesman’s list in letterpress (printed by J. Barfield, 1796-1842), revealing the extent of his business as ‘Ironmonger, Brazier, &c.’; the recto was engraved by Strongitbarm. The card of Skidmore & Son has another reference to the Board of Ordnance (see also nos. 46 and 54).

JJ Trade Cards 20 (63) Thomas Upton

JJ Trade Cards 20 (35) William King

JJ Trade Cards 20 (13) Benjn. Denham

JJ Trade Cards 20 (54) Skidmore & Son