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Description
Original Antique 1898 magazine Ad for Mellin’s Food, produced by Mellin’s Food Co., Boston, Massachusetts. This 6.5 x 4.5 inch illustrated piece features a central portrait of a baby labeled “Donald Sugden Smith,” surrounded by decorative silhouettes of children playing, fishing, and swimming. The testimonial describes a mother’s experience after using Mellin’s Food for her 13-month-old child.
The printed testimonial reads:
“A year ago I commenced to use Mellin’s Food, and the result is that my baby, now 13 months, is as healthy and happy as any boy in the world; has never been sick a day since he was two months old.”
MRS. MATTIE SMITH
64 Dorchester Street, Lawrence, Mass.
Drop us a postal for a free sample of Mellin’s Food
MELLIN’S FOOD CO., BOSTON, MASS.
This is an authentic 1898 magazine clipping — not a reproduction.
Fun Fact
Mellin’s Food was one of the earliest widely marketed infant formulas in the United States. Originally developed in London in the 1860s, it became a major competitor to Nestlé in the American infant-nutrition market. By the early 1900s, Mellin’s Food ads often featured real customer testimonials, making them a notable example of early consumer-driven advertising.
Collector Appeal
Ideal for collectors of:
Antique infant-formula advertising
Victorian children’s illustrations
Boston manufacturing history
19th-century health and nutrition ephemera
Early testimonial-based advertising
Features
Brand: Mellin’s Food
Type: Magazine Ad
Year: 1898
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Subject: Infant formula & testimonial advertising
Size: Approx. 6.5 x 4.5 inches
Original: Yes
Condition
Clean for age with strong print clarity. Light edge toning consistent with 1890s magazine stock. See photos.
