National Sperm

Boasting about whale slaughter may seem an unusual marketing strategy but it used to be par for the course at Price's Patent Candle Company. These Ship Brand National Sperm candles were made using spermaceti, a wax which was made by crystalising sperm whale oil.

Spermaceti candles represented a major leap forward in candle technology. They burned with a bright, clean, white light and about three tonnes of wax could be harvested from an average whale. Such niceties as the effect on whale populations were not considered at the time. These candles were manufactured at Price's Auckland factory.