A. A. Mellier – St Louis Missouri

Posted on 7 April 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

MellierIllustrationA. A. Mellier – St. Louis, Missouri

Mellier’s Imperial Tonic Bitters

by Mark C. Wiseman

07 April 2015 (R•040815)

Apple-Touch-IconAHi Ferdinand, Here is what I have found on the bottle I dug on Sunday, likely an “Imperial Tonic Bitters” according to the 1878 book listing. Thought you might like it for your web site. Photos to follow. Your friends, Mark Wiseman and Jimmy the Pup.

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Dug on Easter Sunday 2015, (with many other bottles and items) this bottle: “A. A. MELLIER, ST Louis Mo” (two dots under T in St. Louis and under O in Mo.) measures 9 inches tall, beveled corner square, 2 5/8 inches crude, diagonal base seam, deep circular indentation, no lettering on base. Some old base scars.

Research

First I found the sons of A. A. Mellier.

“The Book of St. Louisan’s” by John W. Leonard, 1906, lists:

“Mellier, Albin, manufacturing druggist, born New Geneva, Fayette Co. Pa., Sept 15, 1850, Son of Amedee Augustus and Christine M. (Haverstick) Mellier started in business, Sept 1, 1869 as a clerk for Scott & Mellier, wholesale druggists, St. Louis, and on July 1, 1873, became junior partner in firm of A. A. Mellier successor to Scott & Mellier: one of incorporators of Mellier Drug Co., organized January 1887.”

 His brothers description is similar:

“Kennedy Duncan Mellier, born St. Louis, May 23, 1849, A. A. Mellier succeeded Scott & Mellier in 1870”.

The book “A Tour of St. Louis, or the Inside Life of a Great City” by J. A. Dacus PH. D. and James W. Buel (Members of the St. Louis Press) Price $1.50, Published by the Western Publishing Company, Jones & Griffin. St. Louis, 1878, has the following complete description. Based on the 1878 description (third page), it would appear this bottle may have been used for the “Imperial Tonic Bitters”.

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Additional Pictures

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Auguste Amadee Mellier

From the book “St. Louis The Future Great City of The World Illustrated Edition 1875, Biographical Edition” By L.U. Reavis, St Louis, Gray Baker & Co.,407 N. Fourth Street.

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A Few Clippings from PRG

Mellier_The_Cincinnati_Enquirer_Sat__Jul_22__1871_

How Commercial Agencies Are Conducted “Case of A. A. Mellier against Charles Shepard” – The Cincinnati Enquirer, Saturday, July 22, 1871

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A. A. Mellier advertisement – The Hutchinson News, Thursday, January 9, 1873

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Hatch’s Universal Cough Syrup on sale by A. A. Mellier – The Osage County Chronicle, Thursday, August 9, 1877

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Oh! my Head advertisement – The Columbus Weekly Advocate, Thursday, September 17, 1885

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Failure of a Well-Known St. Louis Drug Firm – The Decatur Herald, Thursday, October 28, 1886

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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