Object Details
- Description
- American Express was founded in 1850 in order to transport goods the US Postal Service would not deliver. By the end of the Civil War, there were over 900 American Express offices in 10 states. In the 1880s, the company expanded into financial services with money orders, and in the 1890s, they began offering Traveler’s Cheques. The financial services offered by the company eventually became its mainstay, and American Express offered its first charge card in 1958 in order to compete with Diner’s Club.
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- maker
- unknown
- date made
- 1970
- Credit Line
- Vladimir Clain-Stefanelli
- Physical Description
- plastic (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 5.5 cm x 8.5 cm; 2 5/32 in x 3 11/32 in
- Object Name
- credit card
