c.1915 Wrigley’s Spearmint Doublemint Chewing Gum Trolley Card Sign

Date: c.1915
Artist: Unknown  
Size (in): 21” x 11”
Size (cm): 53.4 x 28
Condition: A-
Linen backed: No

This is an original antique c.1915 trolley card sign featuring advertising for Wrigley’s chewing gun.   This trolley card sign is printed one side only on cardboard and was designed to be used as overhead advertising on street cars, trolleys and train cars.   This trolley card features the Spearmen advertising mascots widely used by Wrigley to great promotional effect in the early 20th century.  

William Wrigley Jr. of Chicago started in business in 1891 selling soap and then baking powder and other staple goods which he promoted by offering premiums of chewing gum.  Wrigley soon realized the chewing gum premiums were more popular than the products they were promoting so he began selling packets of just the chewing gun.   At the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition World’s Fair in Chicago Wrigley introduced Spearmint flavored chewing gum and in 1914 he introduced the Doublemint flavor.   This trolley card sign isn’t dated but the text, introducing Doublemint as Spearmint’s popular brother, suggests that this was issued probably not long after the 1914 introduction of Doublemint.  We date it c.1915 or so.   

This antique original trolley card looks pretty well unused and is in excellent condition with just light handling wear and bit of toning from age mostly to the borders around the edges.  Overall condition is very good for this antique original Wrigley’s gum advertising sign.