This is a Victorian trade card advertising Hall's Hair Renewer. This type of advertising card was popular with advertisers and collectors in the late 19th century, before postcards became popular. Unlike postcards, there was not a standardized size for trade cards--this one is 3-1/8" X 4-3/4". Trade cards typically had a picture on one side and advertising on the reverse.
The
advertising on the back of this card makes Hall's Vegetable Sicilian
Hair Renewer sound like a miracle all-purpose hair product, but it
really was a quack product.
According to Hall himself the product formula was given to him by an Italian sailor hence the name Sicilian Hair Renewer. However the actual product formula changed over time. Initially the formula was composed of 60% water, 36% glycerine, 2% lead sugar, and trace amounts of sulfur, sage, raspberry leaves, tea, and oil of citronella. Later on though the formula was 52% water, 26% glycerine, 13% Jamaica rum, 7% bay rum, and trace amounts of lead, sulfur, and salt. The lead combines with the sulfur to form lead sulfides that darken the hair shaft. However, lead is also poisonous…(source)
See ADVERTISEMENTS AND OTHER IMAGES for more Hall's advertising images. The same website also has information and images of many other hair product advertising and bottles here.
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Obviously I should have used this to prevent baldness and going grey. Lead as an ingredient would have put me off.
ReplyDeleteHall's Sicilian Hair Renewer was obviously a kin to the useless elixirs which claimed to cure anything & everything anyone could think of. Too bad it didn't really work to prevent going gray or baldness, though. What an invention that would be if someone ever comes up with a real way to do that!
ReplyDeleteWish we did have a miracle elixir for restoring hair. I would be first in line.
ReplyDeleteWho on earth would think to include lead as an ingredient!?
ReplyDeleteSend a bottle as a matter of urgency"!!
ReplyDeleteA very fitting card for this weekend. Whisker dye, now that's what I need !
ReplyDeleteOh, those poor, gullible people who fell for this cure all!
ReplyDeletePerfect postcard! I read that the Sutherland Sisters also promoted some horrific hair concoction, allegedly to grow and clean hair.
ReplyDeleteI thank the FDA every single day.
ReplyDeleteCan't make promises like that anymore!
ReplyDeleteThese hair products were obviously a big thing - the girl in the prompt picture was used to advertise the ones made by her family.
ReplyDelete