CURTIS CORDIAL CALISAYA STOMACH BITTERS
19 February 2013
Quite a bit of excitement of late with the scam involving a ‘doctored’ emerald green Curtis Cordial Calisaya Stomach Bitters. You see, there is no record of that yellow green color but it was sure tempting. You just never know.
Read: Curtis Cordial Calisaya Stomach Bitters Fraud?
With that said, I though I would develop a post of the real McCoy meaning known examples of the Curtis Cordial Calisaya Stomach Bitters. The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:
C 261 CURTIS CORDIAL CALISAYA STOMACH BITTERS, Circa 1866
// s // CURTIS // f // CORDIAL // f // CALISAYA // f // THE GREAT // f // STOMACH // f // BITTERS // f // // s // below 1 // 8 // 6 // 6 // C // C // C // 1 // 9 // 0 // 0 // f //
11 3/4 or 11 1/2 x 2 3/4 ( 4 3/4)
Round, ARM, Applied mouth, Amber – Scarce; Yellow olive – Rare
12 Panels on shoulder, Bridgeport, CT.
Note 1: There can be a 1/4 inch variation in bottle height. Known from newspaper advertisement: L.F. Curtis, 285 Main St. & L. F. Curtis & Co., No. 3 Curtis Bldg, East Washington Avenue., Bridgeport, CT.
Note 2: L.F = Probably Louis Foulk Curtis
Note 3: Same Curtis family name as in Curtis & Perkins Wild Cherry Bitters
Spectacular olive green CURTIS CORDIAL CALISAYA STOMACH BITTERS. This is the REAL bottle that was doctored in the scam noted above. – Mark Warne Collection
“Mystery solved. Absolutely same bottle. Bought it only 4 months ago. Some low life scallow stole the sellers photo.”
MARK WARNE
Louis F. Curtis noted in United States 1900 Census, born June 1843, Married Mary Curtis in 1871. Druggist in Connecticut
Advertisement for L.F. Curtis in Southport Times, CT, 1879
1886 Graphic Billhead – Curtis Brothers Stoves, Ranges,Furnaces – Bridgeport CT (same address as Curtis Druggists)
CURTIS CORDIAL CALASAYA THE GREAT STOMACH BITTERS. When we said Bryan had two of the best Curtis bitters, we were serious. While the first one is loaded with whittle (see below) and is an overall superb bottle, the second example is even better. It’s green! We’ve actually never seen a green example before. And when you look at the picture with the two variants together, you can see just how green it is. This also has some pretty good whittle and a perfect top. The whole bottle is nothing less than exceptional. It is definitely one of the best examples around and just another bitters we’re proud to offer from the Bryan Grapentine collection. Ex-Carolyn Ring – American Bottle Auctions Auction 41 (Grapentine Part II) – Lot 495
CURTIS CORDIAL CALASAYA THE GREAT STOMACH BITTERS. 1866 CCC 1900. Ring-261. Applied band. There are some bitters I never seem to tire of and Bryan (Grapentine) managed to find two of the best examples we’ve ever seen. This first example is a medium to deeper amber, in terrific condition and it is hammered with whittle. These bottles for some reason are often in poor shape and we’re just not sure why they don’t turn up in better condition more often. In this case, Bryan has an beautifully colored, highly whittled and desirable bitters. At worst, there may be a hint of high point wear but we have to call this one a 9. It would be very hard to find a better one. This bottle sold in a Norm Heckler sale in June of 1999. American Bottle Auctions Auction 41 (Grapentine Part II) – Lot 494
Detail of above – CURTIS CORDIAL CALASAYA THE GREAT STOMACH BITTERS. 1866 CCC 1900. Ring-261. Applied band. There are some bitters I never seem to tire of and Bryan managed to find two of the best examples we’ve ever seen. This first example is a medium to deeper amber, in terrific condition and it is hammered with whittle. These bottles for some reason are often in poor shape and we’re just not sure why they don’t turn up in better condition more often. In this case, Bryan has an beautifully colored, highly whittled and desirable bitters. At worst, there may be a hint of high point wear but we have to call this one a 9. It would be very hard to find a better one. This bottle sold in a Norm Heckler sale in June of 1999. American Bottle Auctions Auction 41 (Grapentine Part II) – Lot 494
CURTIS CORDIAL CALASAYA THE GREAT STOMACH BITTERS. When we said Bryan had two of the best Curtis bitters, we were serious. While the first one is loaded with whittle and is an overall superb bottle, the second example is even better. It’s green! We’ve actually never seen a green example before. And when you look at the picture with the two variants together, you can see just how green it is. This also has some pretty good whittle and a perfect top. The whole bottle is nothing less than exceptional. It is definitely one of the best examples around and just another bitters we’re proud to offer from the Bryan Grapentine collection. Ex-Carolyn Ring – American Bottle Auctions Auction 41 (Grapentine Part II)
Golden amber CURTIS CORDIAL CALISAYA BITTERS – Meyer Collection
“CURTIS – CORDIAL – CALISAYA – THE GREAT – STOMACH – BITTERS / 1866 CCC 1900″, (C-261), American, ca. 1866 – 1875, amber, 11 3/4″h, smooth base, applied mouth. A 3/8” in diameter open bubble is located on the panel between Stomach and Bitters, otherwise in perfect condition. – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #97
