The Stollwerck trading cards

The historical collector's pictures from the Stollwerck chocolate factory in Cologne are a fascinating testimony to the advertising and consumer culture of the early 20th century. These pictures, which were found in chocolate packets, were not only a popular collector's item, but also a clever marketing tool that strengthened customer loyalty to the brand.

The Stollwerck company was founded in Cologne in 1839 by Franz Stollwerck. At the end of the 19th and early 20th century, the company developed into one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in Europe and, at the time, the second largest in the USA, mainly thanks to the work of his sons. The introduction of collectible pictures was part of an innovative marketing strategy aimed at increasing product sales and promoting customer loyalty.

Stollwerck began producing handmade chocolate bars as early as 1845. In 1897, the first collectible pictures were integrated into the packaging. These pictures were organized in series and covered a variety of topics such as history, science, nature, art and technology. The idea was that customers who bought the chocolate would not only enjoy the product, but also receive a collectible picture that would motivate them to buy more products to complete the series.

Stollwerck's collector's pictures were thematically very diverse. There were series depicting historical events, portraits of famous personalities or exotic animals and plants. The lifelike pictures from the animal kingdom were also used for natural history lessons in schools. A particularly popular theme was the depiction of technical innovations and discoveries of the time. These pictures were not only decorative, but also educational and reflected the thirst for education and fascination with progress that characterized the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The design of the pictures was elaborate and artistically sophisticated. Many of the collector's pictures were designed by renowned artists and printed in high quality. This gave the pictures added value and made them coveted collector's items.

Collecting pictures quickly became a popular hobby, and Stollwerck supported this by issuing albums into which the pictures could be glued. These albums were often also elaborately designed and offered space for complete series. Anyone who completed a series could often take part in competitions or receive prizes, which further fueled the collecting fever.

Collecting Stollwerck pictures was not only a pastime, but also a social phenomenon. It was practiced in families and among friends, and exchanging pictures was a common ritual that encouraged social interaction. Schools and other educational institutions also used the pictures as teaching material to impart knowledge to pupils in a vivid way.

Today, the Stollwerck collector's pictures are valuable collector's items and offer a unique insight into the culture and society of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They reflect the themes and interests of their time and are evidence of Stollwerck's innovative strength in the field of marketing.

The pictures are still treasured and admired in museums and private collections today. They are a fascinating relic of a time when consumption, education and entertainment were closely linked. For historians and collectors, the Stollwerck collector's pictures are a valuable source that brings to life the everyday life and consumer culture of a bygone era.

The collectible pictures of the Stollwerck chocolate factory are therefore more than just a piece of advertising history; they are an important cultural asset that illustrates the connection between chocolate, education and art in a unique way. They bear witness to a time when chocolate was not only a "Genussmittel", but also a carrier of knowledge and culture.