“A visiting card, also known as a calling card, is a small card used for social purposes. Before the 18th century, visitors making social calls left handwritten notes at the home of friends who were not at home. By the 1760s, the upper classes in France and Italy were leaving printed visiting cards decorated with images on one side and a blank space for hand-writing a note on the other. The style quickly spread across Europe and to the United States. As printing technology improved, elaborate color designs became increasingly popular. However, by the late 1800s, simpler styles became more common.”

“By the 19th century, men and women needed personalized calling or visiting cards to maintain their social status or to move up in society. These small cards, about the size of a modern-day business card, usually featured the name of the owner, and sometimes an address. Calling cards were left at homes, sent to individuals, or exchanged in person for various social purposes. Knowing and following calling card “rules” signaled ones one’s status and intentions.” (Wikipedia)

Somewhere along the way these evolved into “business cards” and titles and fax numbers and addresses were added. Before contact databases it was common to have huge collections of these little pieces of cardboard.

When I retired I tossed a couple boxes of these (I think I shredded them). And then I realized how handy they can be. Instead of jotting down a phone number or email address on a scrap of paper that will be quickly lost, I keep a few of these in my pocket.