By Francesca Lungarotti
A trademark is a sign used in trade to distinguish goods and services. It is an intellectual property that tells us the source of products, connecting them to the companies from which they come. They are usually comprised of words, logos, or other designs.
In 1840, the first trademark lawsuits arose in the United States. For the next several decades, trademark issues were addressed in common law and equity law courts and in some state statutes. In 1870, as trademark law matured and became a more international issue, Congress created the first federal trademark law. In 1870, the United States created intellectual property law. The Copyright Act of 1870, also called the Patent Act of 1870 and the Trademark Act of 1870, specifically addressed copyrights and patents.
Trademark registration by Eureka Packing Co. for Columbia Fresh River Salmon brand Canned Fish, 1887 Mar. 22. 
Trademark registration by M. R. Mulford for The K Wren brand Troches and Cough Balsam, 1887 Mar. 15. 
Trademark registration by The Hannibal Meat Company, Limited for Peerless brand Canned Edibles, 1878 Sept. 17. 
Trademark registration by C. E. Andrews & Co. for Morning Lily brand Baking Powder, 1878 Oct. 1. 
Trademark registration by G. W. Gail & Ax for Milla Flora brand Chewing and Smoking Tobacco, Cigars, Cigarettes and Snuff, 1878 Oct. 1. 
Trademark registration by W. Ryder for Clover. brand Pills, 1887 Apr. 5., Advertising labels 1870-1920. 
Trademark registration by Beck & Wirth for Centennial brand Chewing and Smoking Tobacco, 1874 July 14. 
Trademark registration by A. Werner for Half-and-Half brand Cider, 1887 Apr. 12. 
Trademark registration by J. W. Cole & Co. for Take Out brand Preparation for Removing Grease and Other Spots, 1878 Sept. 17. 
Trademark registration by Yates & Co. for Starlight Oil brand Illuminating Oils, 1878 Oct. 1. 
Trademark registration by F. K. Bowers for Michael Davitt Land League Cigars brand Cigars, 1887 Apr. 19. 
Trademark registration by C. Goldsborough for Copper Distilled Pure Rye Whiskey brand Whisky, 1887 Apr. 19. 
Trademark registration by T. C. Williams & Co. for Golden Eagle brand Chewing and Smoking Tobacco, 1878 Oct. 8. 
Trademark registration by B. F. Avery & Sons for Pony. brand Plows, 1874 May 5. 
Trademark registration by J. Alston & Co. for Granger brand White Lead, 1874 May 5. 
Trademark registration by A. G. Dooley for Dooley’s Superior Chemical-Yeast Baking Powder brand Yeast-Powders, 1874 May 12. 
Trademark registration by J. B. Ficklen & Brother for Bridgewater brand Flour, 1874 May 12. 
Trademark registration by F. Bramer for Warrior. brand Mowing and Reaping Machines, 1874 June 9. 
Trademark registration by Gall, Fales & Co. for Celebrated Pepsinola. brand Preparation of Tripe, 1874 June 16. 
Trademark registration by Beck & Wirth for Eureka brand Chewing Tobacco, 1874 Aug. 4. 
Trademark registration by F. O. Matthiessen & Wiecher’s Sugar Refining Co. for Metropolitan brand Sugar, 1874 Aug. 11. 
Trademark registration by H. S. Danziger for Indian brand Powder for Destroying Insects, 1874 Sept. 15.
The linked gallery of various USA trademark registration Images shows how these trademark registrations looked in the 1870s and 1880s, as trademarks began to be systematically registered for products, especially food and beverages and consumer goods in general. Logos and company names were catalogued and thus registered, then becoming a regular path for any new product.
All images: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group
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Sources:
History of Trademarks – Respect For Trademarks https://respectfortrademarks.org/tricks-of-the-trademark/history-of-trademarks/
UC Berkley School of Information; Early Development of American Trademark Law; by Ross Houseright, 2007 https://www.ischool.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/Ross%20Housewright%20TM%20Paper%20-%20FINAL.pdf