Friday 8 April 2016

The Girl's Business Cards

You may remember me finding and buying this book


and sharing some of the business cards the working girls used to put in London red telephone boxes advertising their different services. Well I found more on my travels. Hope you enjoy them.





For my new readers - These are called Tart cards and were often printed cards (though some of the early ones were handwritten/drawn



and were placed in London telephone boxes by the girls advertising all their different type of services during the 1980's when a loophole in the law meant they were not, strictly speaking, illegal.

The practice of placing cards was known as carding. It was a particularly English phenomenon specific to London and seaside resort around Brighton and Hove (though they did appear in other towns) For the printers who were prepared to take the risk they represented a very regular and lucrative business.

Sex sells but ironically sex was the one word that was not used on the cards. Hand written, euphemism, double entendres, catch phrases, plain text, rhymes and a specialised vocabulary.

There was a lot of competition so their business cards had to stand out from all the others. 


You can view more of the cards from the book here and here.

Have a fun weekend.

Ronnie
xx 

10 comments:

Cat said...

Love these cards, Ronnie...thanks so much for sharing! ;)

Hugs and blessings...Cat

Michael M said...

A lot of them used to mention Mayfair and Westminster as their location. Wonder why that was? Good concentration of clients?

an English Rose said...

Hi Ronnie, might make myself a few of these and put them up where hubby can see them!
love Jan, xx

Roz said...

These are great Ronnie. Thanks for sharing, hope you have a wonderful weekend :)

Hugs
Roz

abby said...

Interesting and fun to read, thanks for sharing.
hugs abby

Ella said...

Thanks so much, Ronnie. I had never heard of these before. I like Jan's idea so much. I wonder what Sam would think if I taped these to the bathroom mirror?

Sending Hugs Across the Pond,
Ella

Hermione said...

Those cards are so much fun to read! I'll bet the girls did a brisk business with men on holiday.

Hugs,
Hermione

ronnie said...

Cat - Fun to read. Thanks.

Michael - I wonder how many of our politician used their services. Thank you.

Jan - You should definitely make a couple. Thanks.

Roz - My pleasure. Thanks.

Abby - Happy you enjoyed them. Thanks.

Ella - Would be fun to try it. Thanks.

Hermione - They certainly did. Thanks.

Love,
Ronnie
xx

Minielle Labraun said...

Now this has me thinking! Lol. Jan's idea is fun! Although my mil might intercept! :(

ronnie said...

Minelle - Would be fun to see what we'd put. Thanks.

Love,
Ronnie
xx