If I remember right, "back in the day" when you bought a battery you had to wait for it to be charged.
The batteries in shop inventory were probably stored without the acid. Acid filled, battery charged only upon sales. That is the only reliable way to make sure you will get a "wet" lead battery "fresh" and "factory new". I found a parts shop kept an old style battery dry without acid filled, thus I bought one to keep in my garage, dry conditions. When I do need it I'll fill it with acid and charge it up. Without acid in, it will stay fresh for years.
Lewislynn and Tinsled are both right based upon my experience. There was also a third option. I have an old (30s or 40s) battery sales display from Signal Gas and Oil that has a built-in trickle charger on back side with wires with clips coming through to display front to keep multiple batteries charged at point of sale. My collection also includes 2 Signal embossed batteries, a printed box for "Signal Battery", and a bakelite embossed Signal Battery service tool with syringe (baster style), tester and compartment for water.