Description

Three 1920s cases for contraceptive sponges: tw0 with unused sponges, one empty. Diameter of cases= 1.75″ or 4.4cm approx. The cased sponges numbered 1 and 2 are marine sponge in cotton netting with a  string  attached to aid in its extraction. The cases simply marked “SPONGE” is empty. Case 2 and 3 are lithographed tin; case 1 is cardboard.  All three were  sold as a “Sanitary Health Sponges”, or similar,  because promoting  them as a birth-control device would have violated the 19th-century law regarding what could be shipped through the mails: the so-called Comstock Laws, which are still in effect but largely not enforced in the USA. . Such sponges were inserted into the vagina before intercourse and then, after at least 6 hours, removed and carefully washed to facilitate reuse. The sponges are being sold for display only. Prices as follows: Number 1=$95.00; Number 2=$150.00; Number 3= $110.00.