Little Brown Jug Punchboard, ca. 1940.

Designed as advertising novelties and gambling devices for stores, bars and news stands, punchboards were at their peak of popularity during the 1930s and 40s before being outlawed in the 1950s. They were often strategically placed at the counter to encourage impulse buying, with fairly low quality merchandise, or more popularly cash, as prizes. Their design often reflects the sexual, racial and regional stereotypes of the time; this "moonshine-drinking" mountain man is typical of the era.

John S. Minton Punchboard Collection

 

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