overall: 12 cm x 6 cm x 3 cm; 4 3/4 in x 2 3/8 in x 1 3/16 in
overall: 4 3/4 in x 2 3/8 in x 1 1/4 in; 12.065 cm x 6.0325 cm x 3.175 cm
Object Name:
condoms
contraceptive, condom
Associated place:
United States: Louisiana, Saint Martinville
Date made:
ca 1930s - 1950s
Description:
This rectangular, white and gold, cardboard sleeve contains four white and gold colored square boxes. Each of the four boxes each contain three condoms, individually sealed in plastic and foil. A coat of arms logo appears on the cardboard sleeve and each square box. Text on the top of the large rectangular sleeve reads “CONTENTS ONE DOZEN.” Below the coat of arms, text reads “Crest WET-PAK PROPHYLACTICS RESERVOIR ‘TIP’ HYGENICALLY LUBRICATED.” Text on the side of the box reads “Crest WET-PAK PROPHYLACTICS HYGIENICALLY LUBRICATED NATIONAL HYGENIC PRODUCTS CORP. NEW YORK, NEW YORK U.S.A. MADE IN U.S.A.” Text at the bottom of the box reads “For Convenient Use.” The front of each of the small individual boxes reads “RESERVOIR TIP PROPHYLACTICS HYGENICALLY LUBRICATED CONTENTS ONE BOX." The bottom of these small boxes reads “SOLD BY DRUGGISTS EVERYWHERE FOR THE PREVENTION OF DISEASE.” Each condom package is labeled "For Convenient Use" and "ELECTRONICALLY TESTED AND HERMETICALLY SEALED IN FOIL FOR YOUR PROTECTION."
In 1872, the Comstock Act had prohibited interstate commerce in obscene literature and immoral material. Condoms and other forms of birth control fell under the category of “immoral material.” As forbidden material, condoms were rarely advertised openly.
However, during the early twentieth century, rising concerns about gonorrhea and syphilis led a growing number of public health advocates to call for condoms to be sold to prevent disease. In 1918, a court case in New York, (The People of the State of New York v Margaret H. Sanger) clarified that physicians could prescribe condoms to prevent disease. Named after Judge Frederick Crane who wrote the opinion in the case, the Crane decision opened the door for condom manufacturers to openly advertise and sell condoms, provided they were sold as a disease preventative.
By selling their condoms only in drug stores, the manufacturers of these condoms were able to underscore the legitimacy of their product and to charge higher prices.
