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The H804-2A Vertical Brownies are
designated by the American Card Catalog
under the Comic Trade Cards category.
The 5 trade card set is part of a
series with two other district sets
illustrated by Palmer Cox. The Brownies
in this set feature elves with pointed
hats, and are much smaller than the
ball depicted in the illustration. One
of the two other vertical Brownies sets
H804-2C feature Brownies with flat
hats. The other, H804-2B, identical to
the H804-2A set but with a wide yellow
border. The 5 cards include; A 'Panic-er!!',
Judgment!, Out on second!, Putting on
the 'Curve'!, and Taking a Fly. A set
of Horizontal Brownies H804-19 also
exists.
Trade cards typically use both sides to advertise a clients business. Some
feature the complete ad on the same
side with the illustration, and have a
blank back. Others have all the
advertiser's information and ad
completely on the back. This "Catch a
fly" trade card is unused stock, before
the advertisement was added by the
printer.
Illustrator Palmer Cox's Brownies, were exclusively licensed, and their
popularity became a merchandising
success. They were the first cartoon
figures to be used in mass
merchandising. The fairy - or goblin
like Brownies were featured in
magazines, children's books, toys,
games, theater productions, comical
opera's, and even "flying Ballet."
Newspapers held "Brownie" drawing
competitions for boys, and girls.
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