Perry Davis' Vegetable Pain Killer Chromolithograph Advertising Sign on Tin

Item Details

Hartford, Connecticut

Perry Davis' Vegetable Pain Killer Chromolithograph Advertising Sign on Tin

Sign measures 18 x 24 inches. Printed on tin by Kellogg & Bulkeley Co., Hartford, Connecticut. Good condition. Colors remain vibrant with only a couple very small areas of color loss.  The sign does show areas similar to 'foxing' in a book but this, to my eye, does not seem to be rust. No conservation work has been done on the sign that I know of. There are also many extremely small pin hole sized pits which are mostly unnoticeable until the sign is examined closely. Verso has small areas of discoloration and the same pitting as seen on front.  

One of the nicest 19th century advertising pieces I've has the opportunity to handle. The more you look at the image, the more detail you see complete with stunning color and fantastic graphics. 

The centerpiece is a very large Bottle of “Perry Davis’ Vegetable Pain Killer” surrounded by allegorical figures dressed in clothing of nations from around the world. The sign features what we assume to be Africans, American Cowboys and Indians, Mexican Gauchos, Arabs, Chinese and even Moses holding his stone tablets. The various peoples from around the world appear to be gathering ingredients from the four corners of the earth and delivering those ingredients into the Bottle of Perry’s Pain Killer. Camels and elephants transport supplies.

Corner banners read “It Cures Cholera and All Summer Complaints” and “As a Liniment It Is Infallible”.  Four additional banners read “Cures Fever and Ague”; “It Cures Coughs, Colds, Diphtheria and Sore Throat”; “It Cures Rheumatism & Neuralgia”; and “It Cures Burns, Scalds, Cuts & Bruises”.

From the Museum of Health Care website, we find that "Perry Davis (1791–1862) had tried, unsuccessfully, to start multiple businesses, leaving him $4500 in debt. In 1840, Davis became so sick that his pain was debilitating. His solution? A mix of alcohol, opiates, and herbs, which would later be dubbed “Perry Davis’ Painkiller. When a fire burned down Davis’ home in 1843, out of necessity, he decided to sell and distribute his painkiller. A natural salesman, he found wild success at markets and fairs. His painkiller was seen as revolutionary since it offered relief from a variety of pain and was not restricted to treating specific illnesses. Though it is a well-known and generic term to us today, “painkiller” was swiftly trademarked by Perry Davis, who took competitors to court when they tried to poach the label for their own medications.

Despite the poor luck that followed him all his life, by the time of his death, Davis would be one of the richest men in Providence. He engaged in local politics, religious life, and philanthropy. His painkiller travelled the world with Christian missionaries who brought the concoction wherever American ships could be found. Davis’ son and grandson continued to sell the painkiller after Perry Davis’ death, but the company founded by Davis (Davis and Son) disappeared after 1940."

Ephemera from quack medicine companies constitute some of the most colorful and unique collectibles, especially in trade cards and advertisements. These large advertisements on metal remain the 'grail' for many collectors. 

In 1990, a Perry Davis' sign on metal in similar condition to ours was sold in the Samuel Greer Collection of Antique Medical Advertising, Harmer Rooke Auction and was featured on the cover of the auction catalog. The Perry Davis sign is considered one of most desirable advertising signs and realized $6000 at auction. We uploaded a copy of the auction catalog cover.

Extra shipping cost required due to weight and size.