The June 24, 2000, Gerald Burg & Dr. Kardatzke Collections, Sale 6
In 1962, Sean Connery curtly introduces himself in the film Dr. No with words, "Bond, James Bond," and presents a business card, which reads "007."Sherlock Holmes always left his card on a tray when he called upon a suspect.
And in Have Gun, Will Travel Richard Boone leaves his "Paladin" visiting card as he rides off on horseback.
Way back in the 1600's, author Bernice Ball tells us, it was customary for European university students to leave elaborate cards bearing their crests and names when they made their final, obligatory call on their professors before returning to careers planned in their respective homelands. Titled persons or members of the Court coteries - no doubt often parents of the university students - also used the family crest on cards further embellished with intricate monograms, even fabled or mythological creatures, all individually designed and executed.
But the cards that most modern collectors are able to gather began in France, became popular in England in the 18th Century and in America in 19th. France today uses the least cartes de visites, Japan the most.
The era of the plain white cards of the post-World War I years marked the beginning of a trend toward greater simplicity in living and the end of the days of visiting card routine.
From the post-Civil War years on, the use of visiting cards had become almost a ritual in many places; a business that kept the stationers busy and required a certain amount of very accurate social bookkeeping on the part of women. It was customary for a young bride, in any community with a socially elite group, to establish her own "At Home" day, after studying and adjusting to the days and hours already claimed by established hostesses. Her "At Home" invitations were sent out on her cards until she too was "established" in the social group.
However, in addition to lavish "At Home" teatime spreads, a sparkling house and much gracious conversation, each hostess also had some obligatory homework to do afterwards that involved the pile of visiting cards left in the beautiful card tray on the reception hall table. Each visiting card meant a return call within three weeks, at which time elaborately coiffed, attired, and perfumed; smiling and carrying her small elegant card case in hand, she set forth to return the calls and leave her own cards. Each hostess strove mightily to have the most callers at her home and, on a "good" afternoon, an energetic caller might cover (pay back) eight or ten "At Homes". This weekly ritual occurred in many different ways in different areas, requiring more than one card per visit in many of them - many more.
Dinner guests - de rigueur - made a "visite digestion" within a week, while tea or large reception guests had a month in which to make their return courtesy calls. "Even death could not stop the blizzard of visiting cards. Following the funeral there was the condolence call - leave cards. The thank you note for that visit started the dizzying exchange of cards all over again", writes Gerald Garson in "The Polite American" (1966).
Old visiting cards and the customs concerning them reveal much about one#s forbearer, or an era. The vanished vanities of visiting cards seem less compatible with today#s hurly-burly world, although they are still used, and particularly so, in military, diplomatic, and theatrical circles.
Time often turns trends topsy-turvy. Business cards, with company names, logos, addresses and/or products are now frequently sent in as introductions when a caller arrives, and left as reminders of the call precisely as calling cards were used a generation or two ago - at which time there were very few business cards in use. Calligraphic cards, hand written, have never lost their popularity, particularity among artists and musicians.
The typical route of 19th century visiting card would be the following: A visitor would hand a clean, unmarked card to the servant, who would then carefully place the card on a silver tray and carry it to the mistress of the house. After discerning who the visitor was and for what purpose the visit was for, she would receive the visitor in the main drawing room. After the visitor left, she would promptly take the card and record it alphabetically in a book listing other visitors and guests to be invited to future functions.
By the turn of the 20th century, there were more than 35 proper formats and wordings on visiting cards, which depended on the owner's use. The owner#s title, profession, vocation, military affiliation and marital status were also important. Generally, the owner's title and full name was engraved plainly in the middle of the card, with his or her address found on the lower-right hand corner.
The actual size of the card was nearly as important as the words written on it. Women's cards were longer and wider than men's cards. Socially acceptable cards ranged in size from largest to smallest: the married couple's card/married woman's card (approximately 2¼" x 3-1/8" wide), single woman's card, gentleman's card (approximately 1½ x 3"), and the infant's card even smaller.
With the advent of visiting cards, the slim, elegantly decorated case, which held a lady's cards became a fashionable accessory. Early card cases from the 1850's were made of papier-mâché, but they increasingly became more elaborately designed in a variety of materials: tortoise-shell inlaid pearl, expertly carved ivory or sandalwood, mother-of-pearl overlay, and, of course, engraved silver. Today these dainty visiting card cases, as well as their content, are collectors items and can be found in museums and historical societies across the country.
In China, bilingual cards are overwhelmingly favored and are offered with the Chinese translation facing up. The company's name usually appears in the upper-right hand corner. Cards are formally presented with the great respect to each person at the beginning of the meeting, with the spokesperson for the visiting delegation presenting his or her card first. Because the Chinese view business cards as an extension of the person, business cards are not casually tossed across the table or used for taking notes.
In Japan, the protocol of the meishi, or business card is even more important. Because the Japanese employee usually works with a single company for life, the business card is considered an extension of his life. The person accepting the card does so graciously by bowing slightly as he takes the meishi in his right hand. As he studies its contents and reads it out loud, he then bows again.
South Koreans view the business card in the same way as the Japanese - the business card being an extension of one's self. For South Koreans, the only proper way to present a business card is with the right hand.
In France, a business card is offered whenever one meets a new business associate. If there are several people at a meeting, the senior person receives the card. French business cards normally include holder's academic degrees and sometimes even the name of the university if it is particularly prestigious.
Bilingual business cards are preferred in Italy, and both Italians and Germans, like the French, appreciate formal higher education and therefore print any academic degrees they may have on their business cards. In West Germany, business cards are exchanged briefly during the first meeting with the visitor taking the initiative. Since Germans also appreciate business longevity, the founding dates of their businesses are printed on their cards.
In Nigeria, business cards are just as important, and are sometimes called "compliment cards." Upon presenting their card, Nigerian business people often say: "With the compliments of." Business cards are considered much more meaningful than just a handy reference for names and addresses. When a foreigner offers one to a Nigerian, he may ask for one in return.
Since all those who mingled in the circles of high society may have used a visiting card, collecting the cards of famous people became a hobby. Some famous people who were profuse visiting card users include: Phineas T. Barnum (1810-1891), America's first great showman who used his cards as complimentary show admissions to members of the press; Samuel L. Clemens/ Mark Twain (1835-1910), the renowned American storyteller who is said to have owned more different cards than anyone else because of his constant moving about and living at different addresses; and Goethe (1749-1832), the multi-talented poet, philosopher and scientist who owned several ornate cards from which one can trace the change from handwritten cards to engraved ones. Even General Tom Thumb alias Charles Stratton (1749-1832), the world famous midget in P.T. Barnum's traveling circus, used a visiting card which is probably the smallest visiting card in existence, its dimensions being 1-2/8" x 11/16".
Visiting cards were merely pieces of paper with ink. However, the care and attention with which they were designed, scribed and handled speaks volumes for their place and significance in society of old. In this high-tech world of meteoric communication, where one can simultaneously fax, email and tele-conference, all while sitting in traffic, it's nostalgically refreshing to behold a tangible reminder of a simpler, more personal time.
The cards in this collection were used when paying a social call, to communicate formal sentiments and intimate messages, and were often passed from hand to hand. As a result, many of them are lightly soiled from handling. This is to be expected, and in the majority of cases does not affect a card's freshness or appeal.
Lot 12 
Adams, Ansel. (1902-1984) American
Photographer. Inscribed Visiting Card Signed. 3 x 2", on white card
stock with a decorative embossed panel. Signed in full and inscribed "To
Jerry / LA 1-26-80."
Estimated Value $225-325.
While visiting my
friend Jack Skirball one day I met a house guest of his, Ansel Adams, during
the course of our conversation Jack told Mr. Adams of my hobby and Mr. Adams
presented me with a signed panel card. -- Gerry Burg.
Lot 13 
Adams, John Quincy. (1767-1848) 6th President
of the United States. Visiting Card Signed. 3¼ x 2", on white card
stock blind-embossed with a scene of John Quincy Adams' log cabin home. A
beautiful example of an early Presidential visiting card, boldly signed in
black ink "J. Q. Adams." Archivally framed with a steel engraved
portrait to an overall size of 14 x 17½". Frame exhibits occasional
scratches which can be readily freshened.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,500.
Acquired from Renaldo Saggiori, 6/65.
Lot 14 
Adams, John Quincy. Inscribed Visiting
Card Signed. 3¼ x 2", on blank parchment card stock. John Quincy
Adams used this card in Europe with Henry Clay and Albert Gallatin. Inscribed
"Mr: Adams. Hotel du Nord. Rue de Richelieu."
Estimated Value
$600-900.
Lot 15 
Adams, John Quincy. Inscribed Visiting
Card. 3¼ x 2¾", on cream card stock. Inscribed in German, in the
hand of Secretary Baroness von Estenburg during Adams' stay in Berlin. Includes
transmittal envelope.
Estimated Value $200-300.
Lot 16 
Adams, John Quincy. Inscribed Visiting
Card. 3¼ x 2¾", on cream card stock. A card announcing "Mr. and
Mrs. John Quincy Adams," with the "Mr. and Mrs." being expunged, and only "John
Quincy Adams" left remaining -- a sign that the card was used by Adams alone
abroad, without one of his own calling cards at hand. Inscribed in German, in
the hand of Secretary Baroness von Estenburg during the Adams' stay in Berlin
in the early 1800s.
Estimated Value $150-225.
Lot 17 
Addams, Jane. (1860-1935) American Social
Worker. Co-founder of the Civil Liberties Union. Awarded the 1931 Nobel Prize
for Peace. Inscribed Visiting Card Signed. 3½ x 2", on cream card
stock. Inscribed, "Faithfully Yours / Jane Addams" on the verso of an
austere printed card announcing "Miss Adams." .
Estimated Value $150-225.
Lot 18 
Aguinaldo y Famy, Emilio. (1869-1964)
Philippine Revolutionary. Visiting Card Signed. 3½ x 2", on cream
card stock. Signed in full and dated "Oct. 24, 1934" above the printed name.
With a half-inch chunk missing from the upper left corner, not affecting text.
Estimated Value $120-180.
Lot 19 
Aguinaldo y Famy, Emilio. Visiting Card
Signed. 3¾ x 2½", on cream card stock. Signed and dated "Manila,
Sept 14, 1903" on verso. Faint mounting traces on recto.
Estimated Value
$120-180.
Lot 20 
Aguinaldo y Famy, Emilio. Visiting Card
Signed. 3¾ x 2½", on cream card stock. Signed and dated "Oct. 18,
1901" on verso.
Estimated Value $120-180.
Lot 21 
Aguinaldo y Famy, Emilio. Visiting Card
Signed. 4 x 2½", on cream card stock. Signed and dated "Manila,
January 20, 1904" on verso. Slight mounting traces, not affecting signature.
Estimated Value $120-180.
Lot 22 
Alcott, Louisa May. (1832-1888) Popular
American novelist, author of Little Women (1868) and Little Men
(1871). Inscribed Visiting Card Initialed. 3½ x 2", on cream card
stock. Dated "1881," and addressed "To N. A. Clark" at upper
right, Louisa May Alcott writes a brief note of thanks on the verso of her
calling card: "Dear friends, Many thanks It was very sweet of you to
remember me. Affectionately L.M.A." Mounting traces at tips of recto
corners, not impairing the card's attractiveness.
Estimated Value $300-450.
Acquired from Paul Richards, 2/82.
Lot 23 
Aldrin, Buzz. (1930- ) American Astronaut.
Second man to walk on moon. Business Card Signed. 3½ x 2", on
off-white card stock. A pictorial card with a commemorative "Apollo II" cachet
in blue and gold accents. Signed in full, "Buzz Aldrin," above the
astronaut's printed name.
Estimated Value $200-300.
I saw a business
card of Aldrin's and I called the number on the card. His wife answered the
phone and put "Buzz" on. I told him of my hobby and asked if he would send me
his card signed. We spoke of some of the 'movers and shakers' already in my
collection and he then said he would be proud to be part of my collection. He
subsequently sent me a number of different cards. -- Gerry Burg.
Lot 24 
Aldrin, Buzz. Business Card Signed.
3½ x 2", on off-white card stock. Aldrin's personal card identifying
him as an "Astronaut." A pictorial card with an attractive "Apollo II" cachet
in blue and gold accents. Signed in full, "Buzz Aldrin," below his
printed name.
Estimated Value $200-300.
Lot 25 
Aldrin, Buzz. Business Card Signed.
3½ x 2", on white linen card stock. Aldrin's card as Director of
Astronautical Programs at the Center for Aerospace Sciences. Boldly signed
"Buzz Aldrin" above his printed name.
Estimated Value $200-300.