Advertising trade cards were given out by merchants when you bought an item in their store. At the time there was no better way to advertise. This particular card advertised McLaughlins Coffee. On the back of the card it tells you that of all the coffees grown the finest are combined to give you the great flavor provided by McLaughlins at a most reasonable price.
Recent auction prices: buck saw, $12.50; brown crock, $7; wood pulley, $10; wood barrel, $9; corn planter, $7.50; Tom Thumb cash register, $10; paper weight, $3; hay trolley, $30; red barn lantern, $7; hay knife, $15; Dazey glass churn, $55; wood tool tote, $25; cross cut saw, $12.50; Life Time coffee pot, $40; granite kettle, $25; sheet music, $5; tin dough pan, $30; cake saver, $17.50; walking stick, $4; big brown jug, $55; 15-gallon crock, $75; iron kettle, $17.50.
Happy hunting, Brooks. (P.S. I took a World War II veteran to lunch.)
