Skip to main content
Certificate for Registered Trade Mark
Certificate for Registered Trade Mark
Certificate for Registered Trade Mark
Certificate for Registered Trade Mark

Certificate for Registered Trade Mark

Associated (Aberdeen, Scotland, founded c.1834)
Date14 June1888
Object NameCertificate
Mediumpaper
ClassificationsMedicine and Healthcare
Dimensions37 x 27cm
AcquisitionThe George Shepherd Pharmaceutical Collection.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS081342
About MeThis certificate is for a label depicting Balmoral Castle within an oval, for use on products that are "Chemical substances used in MEdicine and Pharmacy not including medicated soap".

Davidson & Kay Limited was an Aberdeen pharmacy business with a history reaching back to the early 1800s, and possibly earlier.

The business was successful and grew during the Victorian period. Davidson & Kay benefited from Royal custom from 1857 onwards when the Duchess of Kent, mother of Queen Victoria, was a customer. The firm was granted the Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria in 1884, whose medicine was taken to the station and placed in charge of a guard before being taken by horseback from Ballater to Balmoral. The firm served 5 generations of the Royal family in all and also dispensed for the Czar of Russia.

Further dispensaries were built at Wellington Place, Alford Place and even Balmoral as the firm expanded while the main branch was on Union Street.

George Shepherd had worked with the company and collected a large amount of material relating to Davidson & Kay, and later presented this collection to Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums.
Certificate for Registered Trade Mark
Davidson & Kay
14 June 1888
Certificate for Registered Trade Mark
Davidson & Kay
14 June 1888
Letter Regarding Red Water Cure
Davidson & Kay
27 July 1877
Letter Regarding Red Water Cure
Davidson & Kay
8 September 1877