From Visiting Cards to Trading Cards to 17-Pt. Cards: A Glimpse at the History of Business Cards

When you look at 17pt business cards with gold foil stamps, rounded corners or transparent material, you will really marvel at how far business cards have come. Here, we will take a glimpse at the history of business cards before they turned into what they are now.

The history of business cards can be traced back to 15th century China, when visiting cards were used. In the 17th century, King Louis XIV made visiting cards de rigueur for the aristocracy. For the 18th and 19th century, visiting cards or social cards were used by the upper and middle classes. It was also during this period that businessmen in London used trading cards to promote their enterprise.

Business cards during these early times were very small and simply, typically printed with the name and title of the caller so that a good first impression can be left on the receiver. It was during the 18th century that cards started being representations for entrepreneurs. During the 20th century, trading cards were replaced with business cards, which pretty much looked as they do now. Today, you will typically receive impressive-looking 17-pt. business cards from business owners, no matter what the nature of their company is.

When having such business cards made, why does it pay to invest in thick material like silk business cards? Because you definitely want to make a good first impression. With the history of business cards that has transpired over the years, they are fortunately still very much a part of modern times. If you want customers to know that your business actually exists, it pays to make an excellent first impression by having good quality business cards printed out.