Title
Red Cross Bandage Box (Johnson & Johnson)
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Description
This compact navy blue cardboard box still holds a sterile, 1-inch wide, 10-yard long gauze bandage manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. Marketed under the “Red Cross” name, the packaging is a masterclass in vintage design, featuring bold red type, a red cross symbol, and a highly visible warning: “No connection whatever with American National Red Cross.” That disclaimer alone is a historical curiosity—revealing the legal minefield Johnson & Johnson danced through when it came to trademark use. The box also touts “Sterility guaranteed unless package opened,” an early pitch for sterile technique and sealed packaging.
Condition
The box shows visible wear, with rubbed edges, some corner crumpling, and age-related fading. The price sticker (“20¢”) remains intact, which is almost more shocking than the idea of getting anything sterile for 20 cents.
Gallery
Historical context
Johnson & Johnson originally used the Red Cross name and emblem before it became federally protected under the Geneva Conventions Act and U.S. law. Legal clashes followed, especially with the American National Red Cross. By the early 20th century, disclaimers like the one seen on this box were a necessity. This particular packaging likely dates from the 1930s–40s, when compact, individually boxed dressings became common in household first aid kits.
Curious Facts, Ephemera, and Trivia
Johnson & Johnson began producing sterilized bandages in the late 19th century, revolutionizing wound care.
The “Red Cross” branding war between J&J and the actual Red Cross got ugly—lawsuits flew, Congress got involved, and it ended up shaping modern trademark law.
Excerpt
“No connection whatever with American National Red Cross.”
—Printed right on the box, in case you were planning to sue them.
Why it is in the Cabinet
Because it’s a reminder that even wound dressings have legal drama. This box represents a turning point in medical marketing, sterile technique, and intellectual property—wrapped up in ten yards of gauze and a paperboard box.