Dr Pepper’s Highly Collected Soft Drink Brand


When it comes to choosing sides – be it roundhead or puritan, republican or democrat, Beatles or the Stones – I’ll plump for Dr Pepper over Coca Cola anytime. Unfortunately, many collectors are now beginning to agree with me – and Dr Pepper collectibles have become increasingly sought after and expensive in recent years. Online auction house eBay have also helped push Pepper prices through the roof – recent big prices have included $230 for a vintage ‘Dr Pepper and Good For Life!’ promotional pencil (yes, that’s 230 bucks for a pencil) and $450 for a Dr Pepper pendulum clock made as recently as the 80s. The last time I looked eBay had over 500 Pepper items up for grabs – if your wallet can take it, that is.

As every Pepperite will tell you the heady delight that is Dr Pepper was first brewed back in 1885 by one Charles Alderton, a drug store worker in Waco, Texas – cheers, Charles! Predating Coca-Cola by a year, Dr Pepper is the oldest major brand soft drink in the US. Given such a long history it is not surprising that there are so many items of Pepper memorabilia to collect. Among the collectibles available are advertising signs, badges, posters, pen knives, calendars, marbles, dolls, keyrings, model bottling trucks and even thermometers! A good condition 1940s Dr Pepper thermometer – standing at an awesome 17 and a half inches – recently sold for $300 at auction in the US.

A good history of Dr Pepper can be found in the book ‘The Legend of Dr Pepper and Seven Up’ by Jeffrey L. Rodengen – in print for about $40. Harry Ellis’s classic ‘Dr Pepper: King of Beverages’ from 1979 is unfortunately out of print again. Finally, there are two Dr Pepper museums that are both worth a visit. There is the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas (who also operate an online Pepper gift shop) and Old Doc’s Soda Shop – part of the famous Pepper bottling plant in Dublin, Texas. Old Doc’s is also the only place licensed to sell the superior version of Pepper made with cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. Go get ‘em in!