Perry Davis & Son

The major product of Perry Davis & Son was PAIN KILLER, a mixture of alcohol, opium, camphor, pepper, myrrh, guaiac, oil of spruce and red saunders. It was claimed to cure everything from frostbite to cholera, and it is difficult to tell whether it was to be taken internally or used as a liniment. A one-cent private die stamp was issued for the company in September, 1869 and last issued February 10, 1883. 2,183,159 were issued on old paper, 3,989,746 on silk paper and 4,862,849 on pink and watermarked papers. The copy above is on watermarked paper.



The two-cent Perry Davis stamps were issued in several colors between September of 1869 and late August of 1882. 387,463 were issued on old paper in black and brown red. 606,500 were issued on silk paper in dull purple, slate, dull red, and brown. 429,790 were issued on watermarked paper in slate. The top row stamps are the brown red and black on old paper. The second row is made up of stamps that are dull purple and dull red on silk paper and slate on watermarked paper.


Four-cent stamps were printed only in brown, between September, 1869 and mid-February, 1883. 384,937 were printed on old paper, 653,300 on silk paper and 608,543 on watermarked paper. This copy is on watermarked paper.


A trading card advertisement for Perry Davis' Vegetable Pain-Killer, introduced in the year 1840. Price: 25 cents, 50 cents, and $1.00 per Bottle. No family should be without it.


A draft used in 1869 by Perry Davis & Son to collect funds from Hostetter - Coffin & Co.


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