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Pepsi Advertising

Pepsi Cola was introduced in 1893 in New Bern, North Carolina. Formulated by Caleb Bradham, it was first called Brad’s Drink and was sold at Bradham's drugstore. Bradham included pepsin, a digestive enzyme, as well as kola nuts in the recipe. Thus, in 1898, the drink was renamed Pepsi Cola.

The first Pepsi advertisements appeared in the New Bern Weekly Journal in 1902. Bradham moved the company out of the drugstore in 1904 and the first bottling franchises were opened in 1905. The popularity of Pepsi grew, but the company eventually ran into trouble and declared bankruptcy in 1923 and again in 1931. The company struggled until 1934, when the introduction of the 12-ounce bottle caused sales to skyrocket. In 1965, Pepsi Cola merged with the Frito Lay Company to create PepsiCo.

Pepsi Cola is known for its innovative advertising. The company used a celebrity race car driver to promote its product in 1909, produced a comic strip called Pepsi & Pete, and was the first to use an advertising jingle, "Nickel, Nickel," on the radio. Pepsi promotional items are popular with collectors, including Pepsi clocks and vintage Pepsi coolers.


Quick Facts

  • Pepsi used bottles with paper labels before 1945. In 1945, the company began using Applied Color Labels (ACL). From 1945 to 1948, Pepsi used a colon to separate the two words Pepsi and Cola. This type of bottle is known as a "double dot"
  • The 1993 Pepsi cans promoting Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" Tour were pulled from the shelves after one week because the tour was canceled. A United Arab Emirates version of this can sold for $5,000
  • The most famous Pepsi advertising campaign was the "Pepsi Challenge," which ran from 1975 to 2010. Started in shopping malls, customers of the mall were recruited as taste testers. They were blindfolded and asked to taste cups of Pepsi and Coke to see which soda they preferred

Recommended Items at Auction

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Say "Pepsi Please" Thermometer
May 12, 5:00 PM EDT
Say "Pepsi Please" Thermometer
by Atlee Raber Auctioneer
Est: $0- $0
$503 Bids
Vintage Pepsi Cola Soda Fountain Dispenser
May 17, 10:00 AM MST
Vintage Pepsi Cola Soda Fountain Dispenser
by EJ'S Auction & Appraisal
Est: $0- $0
$302 Bids
Mel Ramos 1935-2018 Enameled Pepsi Add Sign SIGNED
May 28, 12:00 PM EDT
Mel Ramos 1935-2018 Enameled Pepsi Add Sign SIGNED
by Hill Auction Gallery
Est: $100- $1,000
$501 Bid
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Vintage Pepsi Cola Wall Mount Bottle Opener
May 15, 10:00 AM EDT
Vintage Pepsi Cola Wall Mount Bottle Opener
by Berner's Auction Gallery
Est: $10- $10,000
$11 Bid
Vintage Cardboard Buy Pepsi-Cola Today! Double-sided Keystone Kop Fan Pull Chord Advertisement
Apr 30, 12:30 PM CDT
Vintage Cardboard Buy Pepsi-Cola Today! Double-sided Keystone Kop Fan Pull Chord Advertisement
by McCurley Auction Company
Est: $0- $0
$120 Bids
Distressed Metal Pepsi-Cola Cookie Cutter Advertising Sign
May 18, 10:00 AM CDT
Distressed Metal Pepsi-Cola Cookie Cutter Advertising Sign
by Kraft Auction Service
Est: $0- $0
$250 Bids
Pepsi Santa Claus
May 24, 9:00 AM EDT
Pepsi Santa Claus
by Atlee Raber Auctioneer
Est: $0- $0
$50 Bids
Vintage 2-Sided PEPSI-COLA Metal Fob Bottle Opener
May 21, 10:30 AM EDT
Vintage 2-Sided PEPSI-COLA Metal Fob Bottle Opener
by South Florida Auction & Estate Sale Services
Est: $100- $1,000
$60 Bids
JAKE LAMOTTA Pepsi Cola Advertising Boxing Card
May 21, 10:30 AM EDT
JAKE LAMOTTA Pepsi Cola Advertising Boxing Card
by South Florida Auction & Estate Sale Services
Est: $100- $1,000
$60 Bids
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Frostie and Pepsi Marbles in sealed Bags
May 13, 4:00 PM EDT
Frostie and Pepsi Marbles in sealed Bags
by Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer
Est: $1- $5,000
$10 Bids
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Frostie and Pepsi ; Marbles in sealed Bags
May 13, 4:00 PM EDT
Frostie and Pepsi ; Marbles in sealed Bags
by Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer
Est: $1- $5,000
$10 Bids
Pepsi Vending Machine 10c VMC SA144
May 24, 12:00 PM EDT
Pepsi Vending Machine 10c VMC SA144
by Blackwell Auctions LLC
Est: $400- $800
$2000 Bids
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1980s Prototype Pepsi and Diet Pepsi 1/2 Liter Resealable Cans
May 17, 9:00 AM CDT
1980s Prototype Pepsi and Diet Pepsi 1/2 Liter Resealable Cans
by Matthew Bullock Auctioneers
Est: $30- $300
$150 Bids
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1963 Pepsi-Cola Tulsa Oilers Minor League Baseball Gary Kolb/Pepper Martin Uncut Panel Hanger
Jun 04, 7:00 PM EDT
1963 Pepsi-Cola Tulsa Oilers Minor League Baseball Gary Kolb/Pepper Martin Uncut Panel Hanger
by Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer
Est: $0- $0
$10 Bids
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Pepsi Perfect Bottle in Capsule Case, Back to the Future
May 14, 2:00 PM EDT
Pepsi Perfect Bottle in Capsule Case, Back to the Future
by Lion and Unicorn
Est: $30- $200
$200 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Pepsi Advertising


Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer

Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer

Atlee Raber Auctioneer

Atlee Raber Auctioneer

Berner's Auction Gallery

Berner's Auction Gallery