TWO ADORABLE LITTLE GIRLS AND A BOTTLE OF MINERAL OIL ON STEROIDS (1905)

When I first saw this vintage real photo advertising postcard, I thought it was inappropriate. I could not imagine why two little girls would be used to advertise a bottle of liquor. After some research, I realized that all wasn’t what it seemed to be. In fact, these two adorable girls were actually advertising a brand of mineral oil. The name  of this brand was Hunyadi Janos. Janos was a military and political leader of the Hungarian military during the 15th century. He fought the Ottomans. The label on the bottle says “bitterquelle” which is a mineral or spring water. The owner of the company that produced the product was Andreas Saxlehner of Budapest, Hungary. The mineral water was advertised as a laxative. It was claimed that the mineral water was for fighting “the evil consequences of indiscretion in diet”.  The product was also promoted as being effective at relieving hemorrhoids. This postcard has a 1905 postmark from Yonne, France. This vintage postcard is in very good condition (see scans).   SOLD

 

 

 

 

Published in: on July 19, 2020 at 12:01 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , ,

RARE VINTAGE POSTCARD ADVERTISING “HUNYADI JANOS” MINERAL WATER COMPANY

 

mineral-water

This rare vintage real photo postcard features an advertisement for a Hungarian medicinal water company. The product is named “Hunyadi Janos” and it was produced by Andreas Saxlehner of Budapest, Hungary. On the reverse of the postcard is the advertising phrase “Le purgatif des Famiiles” which google translate reveals to mean “The family laxative”. Interestingly, the label on the bottle is more reminiscent of a wine label than a laxative label. The print on the reverse of the postcard is written in French, so the postcard was likely produced in France. Research reveals that Andreas Saxlehner (1815-1889) was the owner of Hunyadi Janos Mineral Water Company. The business was established in 1863. The brand was named after Hanyadi Janos (1407-1456) who was a fifteenth century Hungarian military hero. Janos was acclaimed for driving the Turks out of the Balkans and stopping a Turkish siege of Belgrade. Saxlehner’s company was very successful. His residence became the home of Budapest’s Post Office Museum. His portrait can be seen below.

andreas_saxlehner

mineral-water-2

Published in: on November 16, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , ,