Random Card of the Day

I'd be leaning tiwards Dutch on this one. Another one of those "quirky" but interesting sets.

Google Translate detects "Hoofdsoorten en hun kweek" as Dutch, and tranlates it to English as "Main types and their breeding".

-Tom

Liebig was a producer of "meat extract" (bouillon cubes). The process was invented in 1847 by Justus von Liebig and the product was distributed by the London based Liebig Company beginning in 1847. As a way of trying to convince European housewives to use the product, the company began advertising with trade cards in 1868. 

The company would continue to make trade cards until 1975, when they were bought by Brooke Bond. Liebig would end up producing over 11,000 sets of cards. Most of their sets consist of either 6 or 12 cards and they are known for their beautifull lithography. Their sets were distributed in 14 different countries and 14 different languages.

I read that as 1875, meaning 11,000 sets in 7 years. Still, 11,000 sets in 107 years is pretty insane in it's own right.  Panini and Topps have nothing on these guys!

Wow! 11 thousand sets? I still have so much more to learn. The advertising trade cards are essentially trading cards, aren't they? I was under the impression that the hobby started in 1879, but the world of trade cards has always kind of eluded me; I know they exist, I know COMC sells them, but I don't really know anything more. I did photograph some in a museum, as well as Calling Cards- which seem like a cross between post cards and trading cards. I took several pictures, they start Here on my website. 

"No one is either so refined or so vulgar that he will not admire a pretty advertising card and save it." Qoute from "The Advertising Card Business" - May 1885

Here are two interesting articles about the rise of Trade Cards. 

Trade Cards An Illustrated History

The Development of the American Advertising Card

Thank you, Chad. I need to add some of these to my collection. 

Now...do they get listed here? The 1850s album cards mentioned in the first link certainly sound like trading cards to me, even if the advertising cards don't quite fit the guidelines. Of course, finding a checklist and perhaps even images of paper goods from the 1850s may prove impossible. 

I am Dutch and I can confirm it is Dutch. Ironically, I like the card but coffee makes me feel very sick. Love the smell though. Nevertheless, here's a quick translation of the back:

The ladies at home who cook a family soup appreciate very much the Liebig Bouillon block. One block is 1 litre of basic bouillon.

2. - Main species and how they are grown

One knows around 40 species of coffee beans of which two are very important in terms of agricultural usage: the Coffea Arabica and a species imported from the Kongo around the start of the century, the Coffea Robusta.

The coffee-tree, which can grow up to 10 meters, is cut frequently to just 2-3 meters to pick the beans more easily. The  image (on the front) depicts a part of the plantation, which has bundles of 4-5 plants which carry white Jasmin-smelling flowers. The flowers open in the morning and die out the same day. The next day this process repeats itself, which creates a magic September spring spectacle in Brazil. The coffee tree demands a lot of the soil and climate; it needs penetrable soil, mainly deposits from volcanic soil such as those of Sao Paulo in Brazil.

The temperature range that the coffee tree needs is 10 to 35 degrees Celsius. Rain and shadow are favourable, however a drought of 3-4 months is necessary. The Robusta however adapts easily to less suitable environments. One harvests the fruits of this species starting from the 3rd to 5th year after it has been planted. The planter must battle worms, insects, parasital fungae and must keep his land fertile. Because the coffee tree shall only produce rich harvests when it receives a rich amount of natural and 'artificial menure'

(not sure about the last two words :P)

Nice, thanks for the translation!

'Artificial Manure' sounds like fertilizer to me.

-Tom

Thank you for the translation!