These three trade cards are probably circa late 1800s. At least one, the Willson the Optician showing a cat in spectacles, has a copyright date of 1889. All feature anthropomorphized cats, the others showing cats dressed as a man and woman and in an embrace and a cat dressed as a woman and coming home from market with birds in a basket and holding an umbrella.
The proprietors are W.A. Shoemaker, seedsman; Chas. G. Willson and his Palace Jewelry Store; and the installment house of Gately & Britton. All are Reading, Pennsylvania businesses.
The Willson card is 4 9/16" x 3 5/16".
The Gately & Britton card is 4 1/2" x 2 7/8".
The W.A. Shoemaker card is 4 1/4" x 2 7/8".
The cards are in fair condition with some creasing and worn edges as well as some slight tearing on the edges of the Willson and Shoemaker cards (upper left corners on both). There is also a stain on the Shoemaker card as seen in the eighth photo. Please examine the photos carefully and do let me know if you'd like more as I'll be happy to oblige. Also, please use the zoom function to view magnified versions of the trade cards.
Thank you for looking.
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