DR. BLACK’S ROCKY MOUNTAIN BITTERS – XR Square

Posted on 27 March 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Matthew Tigue Levant over on facebook Antique Bottles for Sale posted that he is “looking for any med, bitters, cure bottles with the word “Mountain” embossed in the glass”.

That made me think a moment about my Bitters collection. The Dr. Black’s Rocky Mountain Biters, Blue Mountain Bitters, Sharp’s Mountain Herb Bitters and Mountain Root and Herb Bitters came quickly to mind. I suspect there are others so when I reunite with my collection at home I will look. The Dr. Black’s which constitutes this post is Extremely Rare. I actually have two (2) examples from the Dr. James Carter Collection that was auctioned off by Glass Works in successive auctions back in 2008.

As with many cases, I can not tell you much more than what is listed in Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham’s Bitters Bottle book which is as follows. We will have to wait until some advertising and/or a labeled example surfaces.

B 116  DR. BLACK’S ROCKY MOUNTAIN BITTERS, Circa 1865 – 1875

DR W. H. BLACK’S / ROCKY MOUNTAIN BITTERS // f // f // BLACK & RICHARDSON / PROPRIETORS // // b // B.F.G. CO.
9 x 2 3/4
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare,

(Example A) DR. BLACK'S ROCKY MOUNTAIN BITTERS - Meyer Collection (ex: Dr. James Carter Collection)

(Example A) DR. BLACK'S ROCKY MOUNTAIN BITTERS - Meyer Collection (ex: Dr. James Carter Collection)

(Example B) DR. BLACK'S ROCKY MOUNTAIN BITTERS - Meyer Collection (ex: Dr. James Carter Collection)

(Example B) DR. BLACK'S ROCKY MOUNTAIN BITTERS - Meyer Collection (ex: Dr. James Carter Collection)

About Ferdinand Meyer V

Ferdinand Meyer V is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and has a BFA in Fine Art and Graphic Design from the Kansas City Art Institute and School of Design. Ferdinand is the founding Principal of FMG Design, a nationally recognized design consultation firm. Ferdinand is a passionate collector of American historical glass specializing in bitters bottles, color runs and related classic figural bottles. He is married to Elizabeth Jane Meyer and lives in Houston, Texas with their daughter and three wonderful grandchildren. The Meyers are also very involved in Quarter Horses, antiques and early United States postage stamps. Ferdinand is the past 6-year President of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors and is one of the founding members of the FOHBC Virtual Museum.
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4 Responses to DR. BLACK’S ROCKY MOUNTAIN BITTERS – XR Square

  1. Jeff Noordsy says:
    27 March 2012 at 9:27 am

    Can’t forget one of my favorites, the elusive “Ullmer’s Mountain Ash Bitters.” Pontil as well!

  2. tigue710 says:
    27 March 2012 at 7:07 pm

    beautiful example, its shame there is not a city and or state embossed on the bottle… is it from the Rocky’s or was an eastern quack trying to capitalize on Western fever? And where can I hope to dig one?! I could swear I have seen a smaller size “Rocky Mountain Bitters”, (with that embossed in one line), with sunken panels. Possibly Im confusing it with something else, the Sharps maybe? Thanks for posting Ferdinand

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