RARE SPOHN VETERINARY HISTORY & ADVERTISING COLLECTION — 1910 COMIC AD
A remarkable collection of vintage Spohn Medical Company veterinary advertising, packaging, bottles and printed ephemera, highlighted by an original 1910 “SPOHN\'S Holds the Fort” comic advertisement from The Horse Review.
This collection brings together multiple pieces of Spohn veterinary history, including early Spohn\'s Distemper Compound bottles, Spohn\'s Compound packaging, advertising brochures, and later Spohn promotional material.
⭐ THE 1910 “750,000 SPOHN GUNS” COMIC ADVERTISEMENT
The centerpiece is the original framed December 14, 1910 Horse Review advertisement titled:
“SPOHN\'S Holds the Fort”
with the enormous headline:
“750,000 Spohn Guns”
This is an unusually entertaining example of early veterinary advertising.
The advertisement turns the Spohn medicine bottles into cannons or “guns,” with the horses defending the fort against an invading army of disease germs. The advertising concept continues throughout the illustration and copy, creating a humorous military battle between the “Spohn Guns” and the “Microbe Army.”
The original graphic is documented in historical collections, providing valuable context for this piece.
Framed advertisement measurements: approximately 15\" × 10.75\" × 5/8\" thick.
FOUR VINTAGE SPOHN BOTTLES
The collection includes FOUR bottles:
- 1 large 5.5 fl. oz. Spohn\'s Compound bottle
- 1 small 2.25 fl. oz. Spohn\'s Compound bottle
- 2 clear vintage Spohn bottles specifically marked “DISTEMPER” - sterilized
- Some bottles are photographed with medicine still present in them. However, the medicine will be removed and bottles cleaned.
The Smithsonian\'s National Museum of American History has a Spohn\'s Distemper Compound bottle in its collection. This provides interesting museum-level historical context for the Distemper bottles included here.
The Smithsonian reference does not imply that these particular bottles were ever part of the Smithsonian collection.
NINE VINTAGE SPOHN\'S COMPOUND BOXES
Included are:
- 4 smaller-size Spohn\'s Compound boxes
- 5 larger-size Spohn\'s Compound boxes
- 9 boxes total
- All are described as new/unused condition
The original period graphics, typography and printed product information make these interesting examples of veterinary product packaging and advertising history.
ADDITIONAL SPOHN MATERIAL
Also included:
- 1 vintage Sponz-O ointment box
- 1 Spohn\'s Udder-Aid tin
- 11 Spohn\'s Compound brochures
- Additional vintage Spohn advertising pieces, including material relating to Horses Founder and Chicken Cholera
- Additional Spohn/McKay Maxlin promotional material appearing in the printed literature
The later printed material documents the evolution of the Spohn Medical Company and its veterinary product line, including the company\'s acquisition of the McKay Maxlin business.
WHY THIS COLLECTION IS DESIRABLE
This is far more than a group of old bottles.
It is a vintage veterinary advertising and packaging collection centered around one of the most visually distinctive pieces: the 1910 “750,000 Spohn Guns” comic advertisement.
It may appeal to collectors of:
- Veterinary medicine history
- Antique veterinary memorabilia
- Equine and horse-racing history
- Early American advertising
- Antique bottles
- Pharmaceutical and medical advertising
- Agricultural history
- Vintage product packaging
- Historical paper ephemera
- Spohn Medical Company memorabilia
The combination of the 1910 framed advertisement, Distemper bottles, multiple sizes of Spohn\'s Compound packaging, new-condition boxes, brochures and additional advertising material makes this an unusually comprehensive Spohn-related group.
IMPORTANT CONTENTS INFORMATION
NO MEDICINE IS INCLUDED IN THIS SALE.
The bottles are offered strictly as vintage collectible containers/historical memorabilia. The two clear Distemper bottles are empty.
Any old material that may be visible inside another bottle in photographs is not being offered or sold as medicine.
This listing is for the historical bottles, packaging, advertising and printed collectibles only.
Please examine all photographs carefully. The photographs show the actual collection being offered.
ITEM SPECIFICSBrandSpohn Medical CompanyProductSpohn\'s Compound / Spohn\'s Distemper CompoundTypeVeterinary Advertising & CollectiblesCategoryVeterinary and laterTime Period ManufacturedEarly to Mid 20th CenturyCountry/Region of ManufactureUnited StatesPlace of ManufactureGoshen, IndianaThemeVeterinary / Horses / EquineSubjectVeterinary MedicineMaterialGlass, Paper, Cardboard, MetalColorMulticolor / As ShownQuantityCollection / Multiple PiecesVintageYesAntiqueYes — 1910 advertisementHandmadeNoSignedNoMPNDoes Not ApplyUPCDoes Not Apply
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