October Fall Classic
Lot 2120a:
Description
This is a stunning example of early 20th-century American soft drink advertising, an original Strawberry-Julep poster expertly mounted and framed. This classic piece of lithography, likely dating to the 1920s or 1930s, captures the vibrant, bold aesthetic of the era with its bright red and light blue color palette and tall, stylized image of the distinctive, ribbed ‘Julep’ bottle. The piece promotes the strawberry-flavored soda with the prominent text “DRINK STRAWBERRY-JULEP” and includes the manufacturer’s mark at the bottom: Stafford-Lowdon Co., Fort Worth, Texas. Advertising pieces for regional soda brands like this are highly sought after by collectors for their rarity and graphic appeal, often outshining larger national brands. What makes this particular example stand out is the phenomenal inclusion of the original hanging instructions from the Stafford-Lowdon Co. adhered to the reverse of the backing board, visible on the lower edge. This ephemeral documentation, which details how to “get the best service from this sign” by spacing tacks and avoiding direct sunlight, is exceedingly rare and provides invaluable historical context for the piece. The item appears to be a poster or print on paper, housed under glass in a modern, simple wood frame. The condition is very good for its age, with strong, unfaded color saturation; a close inspection reveals minor surface wear, including a slight wrinkle visible near the bottom of the bottle image, and some expected scuffs and minor chips to the frame finish. Framed H 41.5″, W 14″, D .75″. Poster is H. 39.5” , W12”.
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