Illustration of two people in robes on either side of a blue and yellow shield with a brown horse head on top over a white and brown banner on a light blue and pink background with brown text on a white background

Around the turn of the century, a popular advertising technique for cigarette companies was to include trading cards in their packages. The cards also served the purpose of stabilizing the folded paper boxes. Many companies would include a collector pin that matched the card as an added incentive to purchase frequently to collect the complete set. Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, produced by Kinney Tobacco Company, issued several sets including a Military Series in 1888-1889 that featured lithograph prints of state coat of arms as well as international military uniforms. They also had an Actresses set in 1890 that featured albumen prints of famous US actresses.

Illustration of a white toilet with blue text,  a red seat and a face on the bowl on a blue background with white text

"Get Sassy" was a slogan used by the Beneke Corporation for their Magnolia Products line. This line of products, created in 1956, was introduced in a marketing campaign to reach audiences in retail stores. Beneke specialized in toilet seat manufacturing and was the first company in this niche to have both a commercial distribution while also being in the retail market.

Two color photographs inside diamond shapes with a purple ribbon banner across the bottom over gold text on a black background

In November of 2008, Democratic nominees Barack Obama and Joe Biden defeated John McCain and Sarah Palin in the United States Presidential election. Obama gave his victory speech at Grant Park, in Chicago, in front of a crowd that held more than 125,000 guests. Obama made history as the first African American President of the USA.

Prior to their success, Obama had been a Senator for Illinois for twelve years and Biden was a Senator for the state of Delaware from 1973 until 2009. Obama and Biden were elected to a second term in November of 2012.

Smiley with fangs on an orange background.

The classic yellow smiley face is comprised of a yellow circle, two black dots for eyes, and a black arc ending in serifs for a mouth. It was designed in 1963 by commercial artist, Harvey Ross Ball. Ball was commissioned by The State Mutual Life Insurance Company to create a happy face to raise the morale of their employees. His version was created in 10 minutes. The design was printed onto more than 50 million buttons. Neither Ball nor the company copyrighted this smiley, so it was continually used by other businesses in their promotions.

The design and concept is quite simple and was definitely used before Ball’s 1963 version. However, his has become the most iconic. Variations have been used for advertising campaigns and in popular culture ever since.

Vampires are creatures in folklore that are often portrayed as appearing human with pale complexions and fangs that are used to suck human blood. Vampires are immortal and their life is eternal as long as they are able to feed from humans. According to lore, sunlight, garlic, and stakes through the heart can kill a vampire.

Illustration of Dracula's head on an orange background and with eyes that light up over white text.

Halloween is a celebration held on October 31st each year in many different countries around the world.  The word Halloween or Hallowe’en comes from a Scottish term for All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Hallows’ Day or All Saints’ Day.  This Christian celebration honors all saints and is celebrated on November 1st, thus Halloween or All Hallow’s’ Eve is the day before that celebration. Modern celebrations of Halloween include dressing up in costumes, walking from house to house (known as trick-or-treating), and going to social events/parties.  Another tradition is carving jack-o-lanterns, which are carved faces or designs on pumpkins, turnips, or other root vegetables. Named after the light that flickers over peat bogs, these carved vegetables have a light placed inside them so that they glow at night.

Count Dracula is a vampire often tied to Halloween. He is the creation of Irish author Bram Stoker, who published his magnum opus Dracula in 1897. Like other vampires, Dracula sustains himself by biting his victims and sucking their blood. He is also repulsed by garlic and crucifixes.

White, orange and yellow text on a black background with illustrations of candy corn.

"Yo" is both an informal exclamatory greeting and a slang reference to the possessive "your". "Yo candy now" could be interpreted to mean, "Hello. I would like candy. Right now," or it could mean the much pushier, "Give me YOUR candy right now."

Peacock Papers Inc., with sales estimated at $8 million, was located in the warehouse district of Boston. It was a supplier to well-known and local businesses whose clients included Waldenbooks, Marshall Fields, and mom-and-pop stationery stores.

Illustration of a skeleton with yellow eyes and mouth with an orange jack-o-lantern on a purple background with black text.

This button was made by World Fun Inc. sometime after 1981 when the company began to design and sell materials for Halloween. Fun World Inc is a division of the larger corporation, Easter Unlimited, Inc which specializes in products for American Holidays.

Illustration of a white mummy with a green tongue sticking out, coming out of a brown casket with a black sky and yellow moon.

This button was made by World Fun Inc. sometime after 1981 when the company began to design and sell materials for Halloween. Fun World Inc is a division of the larger corporation, Easter Unlimited, Inc which specializes in products for American Holidays.

White text on a purple background with an outer orange edge.

Last minute invite to a Halloween festivity? Don't know what to wear for trick or treating? This button makes the perfect costume, a combination of wittiness and simplicity. 

White text with an orange broom, jack-o-lantern and a white ghost on a black background.

Halloween in American culture is a themed event where people dress up in costume and attend parties, go trick-or-treating, or participate in scaring others. Many parties and events place a note in the invitation that a costume is required. This humorous take on the costume requirement shows elements associated with the seasonal holiday including a witches broom and a carved pumpkin.

Peacock Papers Inc., with sales estimated at $8 million, was located in the warehouse district of Boston. Its clients included Waldenbooks, Marshall Fields, and mom-and-pop stationery stores.