THE EPHEMERA OF BUSINESS

This billhead has everything you could want. Awesome graphic, great decorative printing. When you would get this with your product, you had to have been impressed with Groff's business. Bibliographical information: November 9, 1889, decorative graphic billhead for Culina Mills. Sole Manufacturers of Charles R. Groff. Celebrated Snow Flake Baking Powder. Located at 346 & 348 Sibley Street , St. Paul Minnesota . Striking left side graphic of a woman on a horse with a spear in hand, fighting a tiger that has latched onto the horse. Printed by the National Bureau of Engraving of Philadelphia . History: Mathew Groff, father of Charles, was a painted by trade. He eventually became a partner in the drug firm Wren, Groff & Regally and thus began the manufacturer of Snow Flake Baking Powder. The receipe for the same passed to his son Charles on his death. Charles Groff began making baking powder in Minnesota in 1874 under the “Snow Flake” trademark as secretary and genera...

Since I have been cooped up all day here in Wisconsin due to the snow and blizzard conditions, I thought it would be appropriate to show some billheads, one receipt and a bill of lading too - all having an ice theme. Notice several of the billheads show a graphic of an ice wagon. Enjoy!

In 1843 the first modern version of baking powder was discovered and manufactured by Alfred Bird, a British chemist. In 1846, Justus Von Liebig in Germany experiments with yeast made from sodium bicarbonate and hydrochloric acid with explosive results. In 1885, Eben Horsford and George Wilson manufacture chemicals which eventually became the Rumford Chemical Works. Horsford formulated and patented Rumford Baking Powder, the first calcium phopshate baking powder. In 1889, William Wright and chemist George Rew developed a double-action baking powder marketed under the name Calumet Baking Powder. Below find some examples of baking powder billheads.

An interesting advertisement or notification on billheads for the UK is that the royal warrant of appointment. Royal Warrants have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier. Competition for Royal favor was intense. So the monarch had the pick of the country’s most skilled and talented trades people. The first rewards for this loyal service were Royal Charters granted to the trade guilds, later known as livery companies. By the 15th century Royal tradesmen were recognized with a Royal Warrant of Appointment. In the late 18th century Royal tradesmen began displaying the Royal Arms on their premises and stationery. One of the most common endorsements during that time was for “Her Majesty.” Which while not specific, I can only infer that the firm is referring to Queen Victoria of G...

Tobacco advertising in America first appeared in 1789, when the Lorillard brothers advertised their snuff and tobacco products in a local New York daily paper. Advertising for tobacco, and most other products, over the next 70 years took this same form - mostly unadorned advertisements in local or regional newspapers. It wasn't until the 1840s that brand names slowly began to appear on labels. Customers traditionally would ask for the "best" product, rarely requesting a specific brand, when they purchased their tobacco from the local grocer, or possibly from a traveling peddler. After the Civil War, there was an increased demand for tobacco products in general. The tobacco companies used trade cards (similar to business cards), tin tags and posters to advertise their products. Color lithography developed in the late 1870s, and businesses could now promote themselves with a variety of attractive colorful images, some having nothing at all to do with any of their product...