ABSTRACT
This advertisment appeared in the Penny Pictorial Magazine, c. 1900, and included a special offer for those who have not yet tried Koko—a 4/6 Trial Bottle for 2/–. The makers, The Koko-Maricopas Co of Bevis Marks, London, stated that ‘We find it better to thus practically give away one bottle to make a customer than to spend large amounts on advertising’. However, they did issue another advertisment with complimentary remarks from: one John Strange Winter, the now long-forgotten author of ‘Bootle’s Baby’, who claims it stopped his hair falling out (maybe due to worry of finding publishers for his stories!); from someone purporting to act for HRH Princess Victoria begging to send six bottle of Koko for this grandaughter of Queen Victoria; from HRH Princess Marie of Greece at the Palais Royal, Athens, to say she is very pleased with her hair; and finally, the most intriguing testimonial, from a Rear-Admiral A. Tinklar, at the address of Governor’s House, H.M. Prison, Birmingham, who was very pleased with his bottle of Koko, claiming it to be a most excellent preparation. It is not stated whether this was first-hand knowledge, or whether it was somehow tested on the prisoners in Birmingham Jail!
