3-085-615 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Branding Cattle, 1898. 'When the world was young, keepers of cattle could recognise every bullock of their herd by its features or form, but many centimes did not elapse before disputes arose as to whom the best animals belonged, and then some one hit upon the plan of marking his own cattle with a distinctive device. Later on that led to owners branding their initials upon their own animals, and this method of recognition is now adopted all the world over. The Liebig Company have carried the idea still further, they stamp the blue signature, J. v. Liebig, across every jar of their extract. The law forbids any one to forge this signature, so you are quite safe in relying on it; but if you are offered a jar bearing any different mark, you may be sure it does not emanate from the Liebig Company, even should it be called Liebig's. There is only one Liebig Company's Extract, but as there are many inferior substitutes which have not the same flavour and are not so carefully manufactured, the distinctive signature, J. v. Liebig, has been adopted by the Company to prevent the public being imposed upon'. From "Illustrated London News", 1898.