Offered here is an original 1940s Sterling Iodized Salt advertising cardstock piece, measuring approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches. This is a scarce, purpose-made promotional item believed to have been distributed to grocery stores and retail buyers, encouraging them to inventory Sterling Salt while showcasing the outdoor billboard advertising that would soon appear in their own neighborhoods.
The reverse is blank and may have functioned as an ink blotter, a common and practical feature of sales pieces from this era.
The front features a wonderfully bold, colorful, and instantly eye-catching design:
A smiling diapered baby seated on the floor — a classic mid-century advertising motif symbolizing purity, trust, and reliability
The baby playfully “pours” salt from a spoon, reinforcing the bold headline:
“Guaranteed to POUR!”
A toy duck on wheels, pulled by a string, appears beside the child — a charming period detail that reflects popular 1940s pull-toy designs (likely inspired by common wooden or lithographed tin pull toys of the era)
At right, a large illustrated Sterling Iodized Salt canister dominates the layout, boldly labeled “Guaranteed Damp Proof”
Along the bottom, the message reads:
“New STERLING OUTDOOR POSTERS in your neighborhood!”
clearly indicating this piece was meant to sell the advertising support, not just the product
The entire scene is framed by a dark green border, mimicking the look of a roadside billboard — a clever visual device reinforcing the outdoor advertising theme.
This piece was not intended for the general public. It was a trade sales tool, likely handed out or mailed to grocery store owners, managers, or buyers to demonstrate:
Brand recognition
National or regional billboard campaigns
Consumer trust and familiarity with the Sterling Salt name
Because these items were working sales materials, most were discarded — making survivors in excellent condition genuinely scarce today.
This item checks multiple highly collectible boxes:
Vintage advertising & grocery ephemera
Baby imagery / child advertising collectors
1940s toy & childhood nostalgia (pull-toy duck motif)
Food & salt manufacturer enthusiasts
Billboard and outdoor advertising history
Ink blotter & desk ephemera collectors
Its small size, bold color, and strong graphic design make it perfect for framing or display.
Original 1940s cardstock advertising piece
Approx. 5.5 x 3.5 inches
Back is blank and may have served as an ink blotter
Professionally printed, not a reproduction
Excellent vintage condition
Bright colors, clean surface, and sharp imagery
No major creases, tears, or stains
Please review photos carefully, as they are part of the description
Mid-century grocery advertising pieces like this were designed to be used and discarded, not saved. Finding one that:
Survives intact
Retains strong color
Clearly communicates billboard advertising strategy
…is increasingly uncommon.
This is a charming, authentic snapshot of 1940s American marketing, blending product reliability, childhood imagery, and outdoor advertising into one small but powerful piece of ephemera.