Why We Trade Artist Cards- A Hobby Handed Down From the Past

From Baseball Cards to Garbage Pail Kids
When I was a child, the boys traded baseball cards and the girls collected Cabbage Patch Kids Dolls. Then this gross little card called Garbage Pail Kids came along and suddenly both boys and girls traded them. They came with stickers, too! We had them on our school books, stuck inside of our lockers and plastered on our bicycles. I remember how serious some kids were about them. Collecting every card in the series. Keeping them stored in plastic sleeves in a three ring binder. The same way that baseball cards are collected and the same way that some people store their collected art cards. All this done in the hopes that they would someday be worth something. We already know that there is value in a baseball card, especially if you own a rare one. Garbage Pail Kids can be found at Ebay. So, were they worth saving? Whether or not the cards ended up retaining or gaining in value, the point of collecting is because it is fun. So be it with Art Cards and ACEO. However, since you are able to collect both Art Cards and ACEO that are original pieces, the value is definately worth more than a Garbage Pail Kid Card.

How Trading Cards Got Their Start

In the 1700's, the people in France and England realized that they could advertise on playing cards. Playing cards then became little works of art in their own right. The Impressionists traded their own artist cards for art supplies, food and even room and board. They were even known to sell them for money. In the 1800's, baseball cards were developed and it wasn't until later that the trading card size was standardized to that of a playing card. 2-1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches.

If you grew up in the 50s you may remember how many parents played cards on set nights of the week. They played Bridge, Canasta, Poker, Gin, to name a few. It was a way to socialize. First at one family's house and the next week at another. The playing cards that they used often had different pictures on the backsides. Horses, sailboats, landscapes, dogs, etc. Kids used spare cards to build houses out of cards and they also traded off the different cards with their friends. It was the rage before Garbage Pail Kids.

So is it so unusual that we, after generation and generation of card traders, should be surprised that Art Cards are such a great and popular hobby? Not at all. Baseball cards are still extremely popular and there is a great following and many books and other games developed after a simple card called Pokemon! Collecting ATC and ACEO is a hobby that will maintain itself for years to come since it is open to all ages and people of skill level. It allows you to meet new people and develop your art skills. Trading Artists Cards is a keeper of a hobby! Be glad you are an enthusiast!

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The History Of Artists Trading Cards

Art cards go by many names these days; Artist trading cards, fine art cards or ACEO cards. ACEO stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals. In the 16th century, however, they were mostly portraits and they were always sold, not traded or given away as they were in the next few centuries. In the 16th century, fine art cards were the first wallet sized pictures. Artists also painted these small paintings to be used for exchange when people arranged marriages.

In the mid 1700's the French invented the idea to place advertising on these cards and not long afterward the English picked up on the idea and followed suit.

The Impressionists traded fine art cards, too. They did so among themselves in order to study the styles and techniques of other artists. Sometimes they traded or sold their artists cards to pay for items of necessity like food or art supplies.

In 1887 "baseball" cards started to appear. These early cards very rare. They were not mass produced. Cards during this time were usually sold with bubble gum, chewing tobacco and Cracker Jacks. As they were marketed with different size products, baseball cards were different sizes. Baseball cards became standardized to a 2.5 x 3.5 format in the 1960's. This is the same size used in todays art trading cards.Today hand made artist trading cards are popular once again. They are fun to collect and trade.

In 1997 a project known as Art Trading Card (ATC) began. Most would credit reviving the ATC trading sessions in the modern era to M. Vänçi Stirnemann, who began trading sessions in Zurich, Switzerland. The idea behind this project was for artists to meet with one another and trade their art. ATCs were NOT to be sold!

It is the ACEO that started initiating the buying and selling of art cards. Great ACEO information including artist information, art card groups and forums can be found on ebay.


Art Cards are made from many medias like water color, acrylics, collage, charcoal, pen and pencil or mixed media. Ebay has picked up on this trend and you can find ACEO for sale there as well. There are also private dealers who auction these cards and artists who sell them outside of Ebay.
To learn more about Art trading cards visit my next blog which will tell you more about collecting Artists Trading Cards Or visit my website
www.coreyannebrown.synthasite.com/
www.artcardist.com