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Sometime during the mid 1950's the
National Hygienic Products Corporation,
of New York, marketed "Champ
Prophylactics." Four different packet
designs were produced, each depicting
"Champs" of four sports, Golf,
Football, Boxing, and baseball. The
boxing packets are believed to be an
artistic likeness of boxer Jack Dempsey,
and the baseball packet Ted Williams.
The unauthorized use of Ted's image is
similar to the one used on his 1954
Topps card #250. Williams never
endorsed or received any royalties from
the Nat. Hygienic Prod's Corp.,
but it was reported that he still got a
chuckle out of it when asked to sign a
packet.
Packets of 3, Champ Prophylactics cost .25 cents, and $1.00 a dozen, with
4 packets that came wrapped in a
cardboard sleeve, which also featured
the Ted Williams artistic likeness. The
product was more than likely produced
between the earlier part of 1955-1962.
During this time the company place
newspaper ads, looking for
distributers. The back of the packet
has the manufacture's address without a
Zip-code predating it to 1962. Condom
advertising was still in the closet,
and illegal until a Supreme Court
decision in 1977, so finding an ad to
accurately date the Champ Prophylactics
would be nearly impossible.
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