L.Q.C. Wishart’s Pine Tree Tar Cordial with the Poison Label!
31 January 2014
I like it when an example of a re-purposed bottle shows up at an auction or on ebay. They are fun to look at and add ‘personality’ to a bottle. You will not see too many better examples then this wickedly crude, L.Q.C. Wishart’s Pine Tree Tar Cordial with the poison label on on ebay now. The listing reads as follows:
Antique L.Q.C. Wishart’s Pine Tree Tar Cordial BOTTLE Phila 1859 Green Medicine
Up for auction this evening is an Estate fresh Antique L.Q.C. Wishart’s Pine Tree Tar Cordial BOTTLE Phila 1859 Green Medicine. Fresh attic find, I have not cleaned it or touched it. Cool paper label that reads, BED BUG POISON H.L. DRAKE PHYSICIAN AND DRUGGIST CAUGHDENOY, NEW YORK, there is a piece of tape on the bottom right of the label. The bottle measures 7.5 inches tall and 2 1/4 inches square on the bottom. No cracks, only a couple of tiny nicks on the top of the rim, cool bottle! Sold as is as you see it, Enlarge the photos and zoom in for a closer look and judge for yourself the condition. Guaranteed 100% old and authentic!!! – c.1901 100% Positive Feedback
Horace Leander Drake was born in New York in 1839 to Orrin G. Drake and Lydia A. Hitchcock. Horace was a physician and druggist who lived and practiced in Caughdenoy, New York (north of Syracuse and southeast of Oswego) as the label says. His brother, Daison Delos Drake, was two years older and was also a physician and druggist in the region.
Horace graduated from the University of Michigan with brother, Daison, as his Preceptor. Horace married Julia Elizabeth Forsyth (b. Vermilion, N.Y.) and resided in Syracuse, New York. They had two children, Horace B. Drake, Jr. and Carrie J. Drake. Drake was a private in Company I., 28th Infantry who enlisted on May 14, 1861 and was discharged on June 3, 1863. Drake re-enlisted from the 28th Infantry into Company I, 15th Cavalry, as a sergeant on October 15, 1863 and was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky on August 9, 1865. Horace Drake, MD died in Caughdenoy, NY in October 1902 at the age of 62 and is buried in Central Square, NY.
Read More: Dr. L.Q.C. Wishart’s Pine Tree Tar Cordials from the Marshall Collection
Hi Ferd, Loved the pictures and information. The information gives the bottle life. When I was 14 years old (1955), I lived close to an “UnClaimed Freight Store.” The store was located next to the railroad. The owner (Mr. Evans), would give me a nickle for every wine bottle with cap, I would retrive from along the tracks. I would then sit on a bucket out back of the shop, funnel in hand, and fill each bottle with Turpentine. I got a nickle a bottle for that. Total 10 cents. The bottles would have a variety of brand names of which we didn’t bother removing. We simply pasted a small white lable that read “Turpentine 50 cents.” I reckon a lot of our antique bottles saw second hand use.) O’ if they could only talk. Best regards, Gary Beatty