Smith Brothers Cough Drop Co., Inc. Issued to Grace S. Smith and signed by Robert L. and William W. Smith - 1937 dated Autograph Stock Certificate

Stock issued to Grace S. Smith and signed by William W. Smith and Robert L. Smith.

The Smith Brothers were makers of the first cough drops produced and advertised in the United States, becoming one of the most famous brands in the country in its day.

William Wallace Smith I (1830–1913) and Andrew Smith (1836–1895) were the sons of James Smith (c1800-1866) of Poughkeepsie, New York. James' family had emigrated from Fife, Scotland, to Canada in 1831, and James from St. Armand, Quebec, to the U.S. in 1847.

In New York, James opened an ice cream shop called "James Smith and Son." James Smith bought a cough drop recipe from a journeyman peddler named Sly Hawkins and in 1852 made his first batch of "Smith Brothers Cough Drops". The September 24, 1954 issue of Time Magazine featured the story on the rise of the Smith Brothers.

William and Andrew took over the business after their father died in 1866.

Originally the drops were sold from glass jars on countertops. To prevent drug stores from selling generic versions the company began packaging drops in branded boxes in 1872. To distinguish their drops from imitators, the bearded brothers created a logo featuring their portraits and stamped it on their boxes. When the logo was trademarked in 1877 the word "Trade" appeared under the picture of William and the word "Mark" under Andrew's.^[2] It followed the brothers became known as Trade and Mark, nicknames that stick to this day.

Read More

Read Less