Advertising - General

People have bought and sold goods since ancient times, and they have advertised their goods for sale for just as long. Ancient Egyptians used steel carvings and papyrus signs to advertise their wares. Romans put up posters on walls to advertise gladiator events, and in the Middle Ages, town criers would call out when and where local open markets would be held.

Advertising changed dramatically with the invention of the printing press around 1440. Print advertising suddenly became affordable, allowing businesses to reach many more people through newspapers and fliers than they ever had before. Classified ads first appeared in 1631 in France, and the first promotional product was a clothing button from 1789 commemorating the election of George Washington as the first president of the United States. Later, Sears ran the first direct marketing campaign in 1891 when it mailed postcards to 8,000 potential customers. The 20th and 21st centuries have seen a rapid expansion in advertising, including radio, television, and internet ads.

Promotional products are of particular interest to collectors of advertising memorabilia. These are often souvenirs or household items that include a brand logo. The Buddy Lee jeans doll, Budweiser neon lights, or a deck of Marilyn Monroe playing cards are a just a few examples of collectible promotional products.