Unlisted Dr. Bourbon’s Aromatic Forest Bitters
16 April 2014 (R•040819- R&H listings)
Interesting news from Steven Libbey, chief of the Wisconsin bottle club. Steve is reporting about an unlisted Dr. Bourbon’s Aromatic Forest Bitters from Madison, Wisconsin. What a great name! He states that there are actually two different sizes and adds that the two that he possesses are the only two whole examples in either size discovered so far.
Steven says “I was blown away one day meeting up with a picker who had my second example. It was pint sized. In the simplest measurement they are pint sized and quart sized. In greater detail the quart is eight and one half inches tall and three and seven sixteenths at the base. Both are deep aqua cylinders. The second or pint size is seven inches tall and two and seven eighths at the base. Both are iron pontiled and pictures of both are available on my website www.mrbottles.com. I have also filmed one for the Wisconsin Antique and Advertising Club in three dimension for our Spinners demonstration. PLEASE, take a look. It is worth it.” See Spinner.
Bill Ham is looking in to providing listings for both bottles which will be listed in the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2. I will add to the post when provided.
The new listings by Bill Ham for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:
B 169.5 Dr. Bourbon’s Aromatic Forest Bitters
DR. BOURBON’S / AROMATIC / FOREST / BITTERS / CALWELL & CO / MADISON, WIS.
8 7/8 x 3 7/16
Round, Aqua, NSC, Applied mouth, Metallic pontil mark, Extremely rare
Example found in 1975 at the bottom of a cistern near a demolished stagecoach stop adjacent to the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin.
B 169.7 Dr. Bourbon’s Aromatic Forest Bitters
DR. BOURBON’S / AROMATIC / FOREST / BITTERS / CALWELL & CO / MADISON, WIS.
7 x 2 7/8
Round, Aqua, NSC, Applied mouth, Metallic pontil mark, Extremely rare
A quick search online reveals a short-lived advertisement that appeared in sequential issues of the Richland County Observer from 07 October 1856 to 02 June 1857. Both the quart and pint sizes are listed. The product was sold by Colwell & Company in Madison, Wisconsin. Agents in Richland Center, Wisconsin were Matteson & Spooner.
Dr. Bourbon’s Aromatic Forest Bitters advertisement – Richland County Observer, Richland Center, Wisconsin, Tuesday, February 24, 1857
New finds in the relatively few already-known Wisconsin Bitters will always be amazing. The fact that these are early PONTILED Bitters is the frosting on the cake!