Object Details
- Description
- This black, white, and gold striped, square, paper box held three condoms, with each condom packaged and sealed in clear plastic. The box has gold and black print; coat of arms on upper right corner on front with the words "SECUNDUM ARTEM" below it. Text on the top of the box reads “1/2 Dozen $1.00.” The brand name of the condom, “Crest Naturac” appears in the center of the box. Below the brand name, text reads “UNIQUE NATURAL FORMULA FOR GREATER SENSITIBITY.” The bottom side of the box reads “ELECTRONICALLY TESTED FOR YOUR PROTECTION NATIONAL HYGENIC PRODUCTION CORP NEW YORK NEW YORK U.S.A.” The top side of the box reads “SOLD BY DRUGSTORES EVERWHERE FOR PREVENTION OF DISEASE.” The side of the box reads “Crest Naturac.”
- 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.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- date made
- ca 1930s - 1950s
- Credit Line
- The Fournet Drugstore Collection
- Physical Description
- paper (box material)
- plastic (condom package material)
- Measurements
- overall: 6 cm x 6 cm x 1.2 cm; 2 3/8 in x 2 3/8 in x 1/2 in
- overall: 2 3/8 in x 2 3/8 in x 5/8 in; 6.0325 cm x 6.0325 cm x 1.5875 cm
- Object Name
- prophylactic
- condoms
- contraceptive, condom
