A "Got-Milk" Ad, Circa 1800

"The House Committee do hereby give Notice that they are willing to receive proposals for supplying this hospital with Milk..."  

Milk Advertising Copy: 1800

Could this be the first ever "Got Milk" ad?  This little excerpt also turned up in the Foundlings Sub-Committee Minutes.  The many daily and weekly newspapers that sprung up throughout the 18th century spawned zillions of advertisements, but I was particularly amused by this one.

Why so amusing?  Well, mostly the fact that it is so forthright in its demands.  The milk must be delivered "free of every expense" and "in such quantities as may be wanted daily." 

I guess that in 1800, the mantra of 'the customer was always right' was as alive as ever.  Or was it?  This particular committee was particularly persnickety when it came to the weekly inspections of hospital staples ––meat, beer, bread and cheese –– and would often send things back if the butter was found too "indifferent" or the beer too "new."