167 Léger Cherelle (1816-1871) - Antique Engraving - Der Festtagskuchen - The festivai cake - published in Germany in 1880

Victorian trade cards gained popularity between the 1870s and early 1900s as businesses sought creative ways to promote their products. These cards often told stories or formed part of a series, encouraging customers to collect complete sets for display in albums. While many cards featured cute or entertaining imagery, such as the delightful cats in this piece, others perpetuated unrealistic portrayals and harmful stereotypes of various cultures and races. The representation of food and its cultural significance on these cards highlights the complex relationship between personal experience and societal perceptions.