In the world of collectibles, the terms "pre-war" and "post-war" are pivotal for categorizing items based on their production time relative to major wars, typically World War II.

1. Pre-War Cards: These are collectibles manufactured before the onset of a significant war, often prior to 1939 for World War II. Pre-war items are prized for their age, historical context, and rarity, as many were lost or destroyed during wartime.
2. Post-War Cards: Refers to collectibles produced after the end of a major war, typically after 1945 in the context of World War II. Post-war trading cards often reflect the cultural, technological, and material changes resulting from wartime experiences and conditions.

In trading card market, distinguishing between pre-war and post-war cards is crucial for understanding their value, rarity, and historical significance.

Pre-War Trading Cards

The tradition of including pictures with products in Germany started with the Stollwerck company in the 1840s. The idea was popularized by the Liebig company in 1872, who started giving out themed picture series. These series often featured images from the food and household product industries. Most companies didn't offer albums for these pictures, except Stollwerck, which started making albums in 1897. The First World War and economic troubles almost stopped the production of these collectible images.

After World War I, economic difficulties slowed down the production of trading cards. However, the cigarette and tobacco industry picked up the trend, dominating the market by the late 1920s. The political changes in 1933 led to a focus on themes related to National Socialism. Many albums and pictures from this era contained political propaganda. The practice of making collectible images and albums ended with World War II and a ban on cigarette images in 1942.

Post War Trading Cards

Post-World War II, some companies resumed making collectible images. The margarine industry stopped image advertising in 1954, followed by a ban on tobacco industry image giveaways in 1955. However, the Federal Court of Justice declared in 1957 that distributing collectible images was legal if they contained advertising. The trend saw a decline in the 1960s but regained popularity in the 1970s with new marketing strategies. By the 1980s, the quality of these collectibles had changed, and the market was increasingly dominated by modern collectible cards, marking a shift from traditional European collecting to more international trends.