Cromos

Cromos were small, colorful, lithographed paper cards that were popular collectibles, especially amongst children, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were often distributed as premiums with products such as coffee, tea, baking powder, and soap, serving as an early form of advertising.

Cromos typically featured a wide range of subjects, including animals, landscapes, portraits, flowers, historical scenes, and depictions of popular culture. The quality of printing and artwork varied, but the more elaborate and detailed examples were highly valued.

These cards were often collected and pasted into scrapbooks, traded amongst friends, and used for decorative purposes. The popularity of cromos reflected a broader trend of collecting and scrapbooking that flourished during this period. While their prominence declined with the rise of other forms of advertising and entertainment, cromos remain a tangible piece of social and cultural history, offering insights into the tastes and preferences of past generations. The term "chromo" is derived from "chromolithography," the printing process used to create them.