- Whitman's Sampler . chocolates & confections. 1 lb size box. overall in very nice clean condition with a little light wear on some of the corners, tiny tear in rear paper hinge for top. cross stitch sampler box. Whitman's Chocolates division/PET Philadelphia. I do not see a date, there is no barcode on the box. 9" by 5 7/8"
- Rare Vintage Whitman's Chocolates Hostess Assortment box. covered with green paper,with gold/white graphics. pretty woman hostess serving. The Philadelphia Store assortment. box in very good condition with some wear around the edges. box measures about 8 1/2" square. I would guess this box is from the 1950s ?
- York Peppermint Patties. York Cone Company, York, Penna. top is yellowed, has wear, splits on edges. bottom is very good. box measures 11 1/2" by 5 7/8"
Whitman's confections have been produced for over 175 years. Originally a "confectionery and fruiterer shoppe" set up in 1842 by 19-year-old, Stephen F. Whitman on the Philadelphia waterfront, Whitman's first became popular with travelling sailors and their wives. They would often bring imported fruits,nuts, and cocoa which were obtained during their voyages to Mr. Whitman so that he could make the popular European confectionis people craved in that era. Before long, Whitman's chocolates were popular throughout the northeastern Unites States.
Whitman's produced the first pre-packaged candy in 1854—a box of sugar plums adorned with curlicues and rosebuds. Whitman began advertising in newspapers shortly before the beginning of the Civil War and the business grew so large that in 1866 the company occupied an entire building at 12th and Market Streets in Philadelphia. In 1877, he introduced Instantaneous Chocolates in tin boxes that became much-admired. Whitman's would later, be known as Stephen F. Whitman & Son, Inc.
The well-known Whitman's Sampler was devised in 1912 and became popular over time. In World War II, servicemen and women who got a Whitman's Sampler from family and friends spread the word about it once they returned home. Over the decades, it reached a level in American pop culture in that it was mentioned in many TV shows, movies, and the like. In 1915, a messenger boy was added to the box, and it became a symbol of quality. The stitching design of a bird on a brach, and basket of flowers were used.
The Sampler's contents vary from box to box, but generally contain milk and dark chocolate-covered caramel, coconut, molasses chew, chocolate covered peanuts and/or almonds, cashew and/or pecan-walnut clusters, cherry cordial, maple fudge, chocolate-covered toffee, and nougaty chocolate whip candies. Seasonal flavors like strawberry cream, pumpkin marshmallow, and mint chocolate patties are occasionally included.The candies' flavors can be determined by their shapes: a square shape denotes caramels; a rectangle means nougat filling; oval chocolates typically contain fudge; the soft-centered flavors, including cherry cordials, are round; and nut clusters are easily identified by their rough surfaces