My favorite set of late 19th century collector cards was produced by the French chocolate manufacturer Guérin-Boutron. They printed color illustrations using the technique known as chromolithography. These illustrations were inserted under the wrappers of chocolate bars in the same way that early baseball cards were included with cigarettes. Collecting complete sets of these chocolate cards was a popular hobby for children.
Les Instruments de Travail features 84 illustrations of French workers with their tools. I have selected 18 cards from the set to share with Lost Art Press readers.
–Jeff Burks
Very useful Jeff!
I’ve an old blacksmith’s vise that would be more useful on a portable stand, and here’s a good illustration of one.
Some of these would make a cool poster to frame and put up on the shop wall. Maybe they aren’t big enough for that, but I’m a sucker for vintage poster art.