The Triangular O.H.P. Rose’s Peruvian King Bitters
02 January 2012 (R•052915) (R•091618)
Taylor McBurney from South Kingstown, Rhode Island posted on the Bottle Collectors Facebook Page:
“Dug a neat farm dump today. Someone had hit it before me, but I found a nice pharmacy bottle they missed. A lot of criers there, including an OHP Rose triangular bitters, a St. Drake’s cabin bitters, and an Udolfo Wolfes.”
Dana Charlton-Zarro (New York City) followed up with the question
“What is an OHP Rose?”
What a perfect time to start a new series on triangular bitters. This particular example of an O.H.P. Rose (pictured below) that I possess was purchased from Jim Scharnagel (Gainesville, Georgia) at the Baltimore Antique Bottle Show in March 2010. He had it sitting under his table for me. His table is usually right behind mine. Thanks Jim!
The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:
O. H. P. ROSE’S PERUVIAN KING BITTERS
L…O.H.P. Rose’s Great Peruvian King Bitters
// s // O.H.P. ROSE / E.G.R.I // O.H.P. ROSE // PAT’D JUNE 21 ‘70 // variant // s // f // PAT-D JUNE 21 ’76 // O.H.P. ROSE //
10 1/2 x 3 3/4 x 3 1/4 (7 1/4) 1/2
Triangular, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth
Label: These Bitters are put in just enough west India Rum to preserve them in all climates. Contents: Dandelion, Narrow Dock Root, Gentian, Peruvian Bark, Wild Cherry, Wintergreen, Clove Buds, Anise Seed, Coriander,Cascarilla Bark, Caraway, Cinchona, Orange, Jesuit Powder Cinchona, Snake Root, Lavender Flowers, Sarsaparilla. Design patent applied for June 21, 1870 by Oliver H.P. Rose of East Greenwich in the County of Kent and the State of Rhode Island.
OHP Rose’s Peruvian King Bitters Patent dated June 21, 1870 – located by Taylor McBurney
O.H.P. Rose, Peruvian King Bitters advertisement – 1870 Providence, Rhode Island, City Directory
O.H.P. Rose’s Peruvian King Bitters in red amber – Meyer Collection
O.H.P. Rose’s Bitters – Shoulder Detail – Meyer Collection
O.H.P. Rose’s Bitters – Panel Detail – Meyer Collection
O.H.P. Rose’s Bitters – Shoulder Detail – Meyer Collection
“O.H.P. ROSE / E.G.R.I. – O.H.P. ROSE – PAT-D JUNE 21′ 70″, Bitters Bottle, America, 1870 – 1875. Brilliant lemon yellow with just a slightly deeper honey tone through the neck and base, triangular, applied sloping collar with ring – smooth base, ht. 10 3/8”; (a minuscule sandgrain, on the inside surface of the glass, has a tiny, barely noticeable radiation, otherwise perfect!) R/H #R99L. A very rare Rhode Island bitters, nice form, exceptional color. Note; the scarce few other known examples are in a more normal amber coloration. – American Glass Gallery – Auction 14
Though not embossed with the word ‘bitters’, the OHP Rose’s is a great form and an exciting bottle! A little research and a prompt from Taylor led me to the really well done The Little Rhody Bottle Club web site and an extraordinary example of an O.H.P. Roses Bitters with striations. David Gates, noted on Facebook, “That’s the one. How often do you see striations like that”. That gem came out of a dump that he found first. Unfortunately he wasn’t the one who found the treasure according to David.
David further writes on the Peachridge Facebook link for the Roses: Ferd, Thank you for providing that great information on the O.H.P. Rose. Steven James Anderson aka “Scratcher” is the owner of that little gem with the wild striations. He and I will be attending the Little Rhody Bottle Show on January 8th. He often tells the story of the unearthing of that little gem. I look forward to hearing it again. Enjoy!
Hmmm….really need more info and would like to see that baby! (see pictures of striated Rose’s below)
Antique Bottles of Rhode Island – The Little Rhody Bottle Club
OHP Rose Amber Example – Antique Bottles of Rhode Island
OHP Rose Swirled Example – Antique Bottles of Rhode Island
OHP Rose’s Peruvian King Bitters – Antique Bottles of Rhode Island
Lot: 130 “O.H.P. Rose / Pat-D June 21′ 70” Bitters Bottle, America, 1876-1880. Triangular, bright olive yellow with profuse deeper yellow striations, applied sloping collared mouth with ring – smooth base, ht. 10 1/8 inches; (light overall exterior wear, 1/8 inch fissure on label panel frame). R/H #R-99 Panel embossing is ghosted letters. Shoulder embossing is strong and easily legible. This beautiful and unusual bottle was put up by Oliver H.P. Rose of East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Labeled examples indicate that the bottle contained Rose’s Great Peruvian King Bitters. Big, bold and extremely rare. – Heckler Auction 167
Lot: 130 “O.H.P. Rose / Pat-D June 21′ 70” Bitters Bottle, America, 1876-1880. Triangular, bright olive yellow with profuse deeper yellow striations, applied sloping collared mouth with ring – smooth base, ht. 10 1/8 inches; (light overall exterior wear, 1/8 inch fissure on label panel frame). R/H #R-99 Panel embossing is ghosted letters. Shoulder embossing is strong and easily legible. This beautiful and unusual bottle was put up by Oliver H.P. Rose of East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Labeled examples indicate that the bottle contained Rose’s Great Peruvian King Bitters. Big, bold and extremely rare. – Heckler Auction 167
The Rose is a great looking mold! Who owns the striated yellow example?
Jeff…it is noted in the post above.
Dear Ferdinand, I purchased one of these rare and interesting Bitters Bottles on ebay last week. Do you by chance know where I might find a picture of a labeled example? I bet it has a great looking label.. Sincerely, Greg Price (bitters-r-us)
Well, finally got one of these elusive triangles; the yellow example in the recent Fall AGG auction. There was an amber example with full label and contents in the famed Charles Gardner collection. Wonder where that is? Hope your example isn’t it; label removed and contents dumped!