Early Nashua business cards on display at City Hall

NASHUA – You often see them pinned to a bulletin board in a coffee shop, or you might have been given one and you placed it in your wallet. An exhibit of early Nashua business cards is displayed in the Nashua Historical Society cases in City Hall through September. Business cards have existed for nearly seven centuries. The 15th century Chinese elite used “visiting cards” or “calling cards” to announce the intention of meeting with another person, who would determine whether such a meeting was worthwhile. During the late 16th century, “bearer cards” appeared in England and France. These were considered legal documents of obligations of intent such as promissory notes. Often, they were playing cards on which a description of the obligation was written with a signature. During the 17th century, when street numbers were never used, “trade cards” were distributed in London’s public squares and  markets to inform people of business locations and to promote services.