Self-Framed Sign Wine Collectibles – The American Wine Company Circa 1900
Antique advertising wine collectibles from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s include signs made from metal, wood or cardboard. Other wine collectibles of interest are postcards, magazine ads, bottle labels and tin serving trays.
Etched wine glasses and wooden crates were also utilized at the early wineries to get their name out and are sought after by collectors. The very early advertising wine collectibles prior to the national Prohibition that started in 1920 still remains highly pursued and is considered valuable.
1900 New York White Tokay Wine Bottle Label
Wine companies would claim health benefits as a way to help improve their sales. Wine was advertised as a health cure for common ailments and this was especially vital during Prohibition when wine was legal only for medicinal purposes.
There was an increase in the number of customers requesting wine for their family members or for themselves during Prohibition to help with illnesses or other health issues.
1906 Foster & Co. Wine Print Ad
Wine has been produced in the United States since the 1830’s and the U.S. is the fourth largest wine producing country in the world. Throughout the 19th century, as immigrants from Europe’s great wine regions arrived, many initially set up wineries in New York, Ohio and Missouri. After the westward movement and California Gold Rush, the increased population and warmer climates of California proved to be a better area to make wine. California now has 89% of the wine production in the U. S.
Brotherhood Winery is one of the oldest operating companies in the U.S. It’s located in New York and produced its first vintage in 1839. Another early wine producer was the American Wine Company from St. Louis, Missouri that produced Cook’s Imperial Champagne. The American Wine Company later merged with Korbel’s from California and the Cook’s name was discontinued. However, the original advertising for The American Wine Company is sought after.
1870’s Wine Ad Claimed it Saved Lives
Pleasant Valley Wine Co. in New York was founded in 1860 and invested in equipment to make sparkling wine during the Civil War. The winery had ads that claimed their Great Western Champagne and good nursing saved the lives of soldiers. Pleasant Valley Wine Co. is still open and operational today.
The national Prohibition impacted the wine industry from 1920 to 1933 because it was forbidden to make, sell or transport intoxicating liquors including wine. A loophole allowed people to make 200 gallons of non-intoxicating cider and fruit juice each year. The price for fresh grapes increased because of the high demand and a lack of refrigerated railroad cars to transport them. Some wineries survived by getting permits to make wine for medicinal purposes.
Here is a 1884 dated lithograph from the Gauss-Hunicke Hat Company which was based in Saint Louis, MO. The litho advertises The Sunshine, A Misses Hat for 1884. This hat company was one of the bigger hat manufacturers in the U.S. in the late 1800’s. Much of their trade went to the ships heading out…
Featured is a beautiful lithograph from the Lang Biscuit and Candy Company which was based in Montreal, Canada in the early 1900’s. Hello Mr. Grocer is captioned with a young girl on the phone making a call the grocer making her order. An outstanding litho with the image and the color both.
Featured is a beautiful lithograph from the American Agriculture Chemical Company which was based in Buffalo, New York in the early 1900’s. This lithograph comes with a calendar for the year and features a young girl with a patriotic flag in her hand. This company was known for their fertilizer products used by farmers for…
Here is a great lithograph from the Temple Plug Chewing Tobacco for their cut plug brand of tobacco. An interesting type of black americana which was common for tobacco in this era. This fancy chew is advertised on this one, the man looks like he is sheepishly enjoying the product.
Here is a beautiful tin chewing tobacco tin from the Sunset Trail brand of smoking tobacco. The image features a man and woman riding their horses into the sunset. The clearly detailed cost of just 5 cents either expensive at the time this was made, indicating a quality brand, whereas most tobacco products of that…
Here is a beautiful condition tin general store counter display point of sale bin from the Beech-Nut Tobacco Company. This particular bin comes in several different colors, with the yellow version being the most common, and prettiest with the color scheme.
Here is a very early tin match holder from the Berdan and Company Spice Manufacturer which was based in Toledo, Ohio in the early 1900’s. This particular matchholder advertises their Chef Spice brand, which a large as life Chef featured prominently on the piece!
Featured here is a nice cardboard sign from the Grape Sparkle soda pop brand. I find this sign interesting as the brand claims to be a wine flavored drink, but does not designate itself as a soft drink, although it clearly was based on other advertising of the era. Circa 1930’s, when many brands were…
Here’s a great lithographic cardboard sign advertising “Fishing for Business” from the Bonnie and Company distillers in Louisville, Kentucky, just prior to prohibition starting in 1919. The graphics are interesting with a woman fishing and apparently getting her line caught on her dress, while a curious looking man is staring at her. I am not…
Featured is a beautiful lithograph print from the United States Brewing Company which was in Chicago, Illinois during the early 1900’s prior to the start of prohibition. This particular scene shows the earliest leaders of the U.S. including President George Washington enjoying Cabinet beer, a brand brewed by many brewers in the early 1900’s. Cabinet…
