That's What She Said! (Civil War Style)

One of the most important (of the many) advertising vehicles for 19th-century patent medicines were 'trading cards." Typically they featured a colorful and eye-catching image on the front with advertising copy and testimonials on the reverse.

They covered a wide range of subject matter: sports, sentimental, comic, historical, floral, biographical, and - as shown in this Civil War veteran-related item from my collection: RISQUE (at least by 1890s standards, anyway)!

Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Re-Union
General: "Many A Battle Have I Fought Under That Flag."
Waitress: "No Sir, Not Under This Flag."

Read more about patent medicine trading cards:

UCLA - Introduction to a great online collection!
Miami University (Ohio) - Victorian Trade Card Collection
Harvard University - The 19th century American Trade Card