The Liebig collection

Liebig's collection refers to a series of chromolithographic prints that were distributed as advertising material by the food company Justus von Liebig's Extract of Meat Company. These prints were first introduced in the late 19th century and were intended to promote the company's meat extract products.

The prints were produced using the chromolithographic printing process, which allowed for vibrant and colorful images. They covered a wide range of subjects, including history, science, art, geography, flora, and fauna. Each print typically featured an image accompanied by a short description or information about the subject. The Liebig cards were distinguished by their high quality chromolithographic prints - up to 12 colours - and the perfection of the images. In many cases created by artists of repute.

The Liebig collection is one of the largest trade card collections. It comprises 1871 different series most of 6 prints, all of them published between 1872 and 1975. Not counting the different languages, the original collection comprises about 11500 different prints. Some prints are very rare and are sought after by various collectors.
The series usually include 6, 12 or 18 prints, with either product advertising, a menu, explanatory notes or additional commentary on the subject on the back.Initially, these chromos were distributed as individual prints that people could collect. They were particularly popular among children, who would often paste them into specially designed albums. These albums had blank pages with compartments where the prints could be placed.

Liebig's collection of chromos is highly sought after by collectors today due to their historical value and aesthetic appeal. They provide insight into the marketing techniques of the time and hold nostalgic value for those who collected them as children.

Select your language