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Trade Card

ca. 1993 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is an example of a prostitute’s business card. Trade cards like these, which became common in the late 1980s, are linked to the growing profile of the sex industry. The money spent on producing them testifies to the large profits made from prostitution. Most of these cards are simple and direct in forms of design and typography. They almost always carry a simple illustration of a woman, and employ a number of erotic stereotypes. The imagery in this card suggests the service on offer: the male figure leaning against the mirror sees himself in female clothing.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Print on card
Brief description
Prostitute's trade card, British, 1990s
Physical description
Card showing a female and a male figure, with text. Black print on blue card
Dimensions
  • Height: 7.4cm
  • Width: 10.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
Calling all T.V's If you're going to do it, do it right! Come and see me and be a real transvestite
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is an example of a prostitute’s business card. Trade cards like these, which became common in the late 1980s, are linked to the growing profile of the sex industry. The money spent on producing them testifies to the large profits made from prostitution. Most of these cards are simple and direct in forms of design and typography. They almost always carry a simple illustration of a woman, and employ a number of erotic stereotypes. The imagery in this card suggests the service on offer: the male figure leaning against the mirror sees himself in female clothing.
Collection
Accession number
E.307-2005

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Record createdJune 15, 2005
Record URL
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