The FIRST EVER AD?! 🤯 1484 Marketing & Popeye’s IRON LIE! (March 26th History)
Have YOU heard that on this day in 1484, William Caxton printed the first-ever book advertisement in English history, creating the world’s first MARKETING CAMPAIGN for literature? STAY TUNED!”
On this day in 1484, William Caxton produced what historians consider the first printed advertisement in English! As England’s first printer, Caxton created a small handbill advertising a religious book called “The Pyes of Salisbury,” essentially inventing book marketing! The advertisement invited potential customers to visit his shop at the “sign of the red pale” in Westminster. Imagine that—before billboards, before radio jingles, before pop-up ads, there was just a simple piece of paper telling medieval folks where to buy a good book! This revolutionary marketing move helped spread literacy throughout England and changed how information was shared forever. Talk about an influencer before social media existed!
[SOURCE: British Library – “Caxton’s Advertisements”]
Today is National Spinach Day! This leafy green superfood gained incredible popularity thanks to a cartoon character—Popeye the Sailor Man, who first appeared in 1929. When the character debuted, spinach consumption in America reportedly increased by 33%! But here’s the fascinating part—the belief that spinach is ultra-high in iron actually came from a decimal point error in the 1870s that overestimated its iron content by ten times! Despite this mistake, spinach remains nutritionally impressive with high levels of vitamins A, C, K, and folate. Whether you prefer it raw in salads or cooked into dips, today’s the perfect day to celebrate this versatile veggie!
[SOURCE: NationalDayCalendar.com – “National Spinach Day”]
Did you know that on March 26, 1973, women were finally allowed to serve on the floor of the London Stock Exchange? For 202 years, women had been explicitly banned from the trading floor! The first women to break this barrier were given commemorative tie pins—yes, TIE pins—to mark the occasion. One of these pioneering women, Sue Masterman, recalled that on her first day, “Everyone stopped to stare.” Even the restaurant had to be remodeled to include ladies’ restrooms. While we might take gender equality in the workplace for granted today, it’s worth remembering that these barriers fell within living memory!
[SOURCE: TodayIFoundOut.com – “When Women First Entered the London Stock Exchange”]
And that’s all for today’s edition of Have YOU heard? PLEASE leave a comment if you learned something fascinating! I’m Troy W. Hudson, the voice over with personality! Until next time, STAY CURIOUS!
Watch, Learn and Enjoy!
Troy W. Hudson
💚🎤 #haveyouheard