Historical information
When Carl Sandner began Sandner and Sons Eucalyptus Distillery in 1875, he probably had no idea his archives would end up in the National Library.
The distillery operated until 1967 and the Uley Street site was the subject of archaeological monitoring in 2011 prior to Bendigo’s new ambulance station being built there.
But his great great grandson Alec Sandner handed over some mint-condition documents that he has held on to for many years.
“I had this tin and the more I opened it, the more interested in it I became,” Mr Sandner said.
“There was a letter from the Kaiser in 1888 because the business had written to them asking them to endorse. They had politely refused.
“There was also a letter from the Italian consulate saying the King of Italy was satisfied with the product he received. From then the advertising said the products had been approved by the King of Italy.”
At its peak, Sandner and Sons had agents up and down the east coast of Australia as well as in New Zealand and the United States of America.
https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/3854951/sandner-and-sons-to-be-preserved-in-national-library/
Physical description
Rectangular cream coloured box with attached fold back lid. Printed in purple on the lid and also inside the lid
"SUPERBA" SKIN FOOD Brings Beauty. All Chemists & Stores.1/3. No Lady should be without it.
SANDER & Sons. BENDIGO, Victoria, Australia.
A centred circle frame includes the following
Removes wrinkles, tan, sunburn blemishes &c.
Beautifies the complexion.
Heals chapped hands and inflemed skin.
Inside the box is a loose advertising card for the product.
The box contains eleven small tins of the skin cream. Each tin has a small red wax seal on one side. Seven appear to be intact and unopened and four have been opened. Some of the printing on the tins is gold coloured in places but all tins show various stages of wear
Two of them are inside original smaller boxes. The tins contain a waxy substance covered with a piece of waxed paper.
Folded information sheet inside one of the boxes. There are no ingredients listed.
